Austin, Texas

Subject: Announcement
Date: August 31, 2005

Contact: Kim Comstock

From A.T. Watchdog

Website: http://www.readybb.com/watchdog/index.php

Hurricane Relief Dosing in Texas

We are already getting transfers from new Orleans. I know Houston, Austin, and San Antonio are already dosing patients. There has been a lot of communication betwen clincis and with the state and federal authorities. Every program in Texas should be able to dose patients and if patients can't pay there has been a committment (verbal, so far) from TDSHS to reimburse clinics.

However there are some requirements that need to met for a patient to be dosed. Patients that do not meet these requirements should be handled on an individual bases w/communication w/state and feds.

Some of the requirements include:

1. A vaild picture ID
   


2. Doumentation from home clinic w/patients name, dose, address,etc.. (this should be on an empty dose bottle or receipt)
   for now, the patients will only be allowed daily dosing
   

Apparently many of the programs in LA gave only two take homes. Thats why we have had the influx today. My fear is that these are the people who evacuated BEFORE the storm. They had a plan. What about the majority of the people who remained and had to be evacuated after the storm. I suspect they'll be much less prepared (lacking documentation, in withdrawal, etc..) Its just overwhelming to think of the hardships these people are going through. It feels good to be able to help in some small way. In fact, I wonder if people on methadone might get more attention than the majority of people housed in stadiums (thats where many of them are) because they will be getting one-on-one counseling, referals for assistance, etc... Our staff is already trying to put together clothes and working on other ways to help.

I have to say kudos to the state of Texas for organizing fast enough to already approve funded treatment for these patients and many other individuals w/special needs (such as psychiatric). And thank you Terri for this site (A.T. Watchdog). Its a great place to share info in a situation such as this.