Web Technology Used to Combat Heroin and Painkiller Addiction Nationwide

FARMINGTON, Conn., March 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment (www.NAABT.org) is proud to report a milestone with its free www.TreatmentMatch.org service. This month the 40,000th patient reached out for help with the system. www.TreatmentMatch.org functions similar to online dating services but instead it connects patients looking for lifesaving modern addiction treatment with one or several of the few providers who are able to prescribe buprenorphine (brand name Suboxone®). Patients register anonymously at the first moment they decide to seek help and instantly upon submission of the application, area doctors are notified with an alert email. If an alerted physician decides the patient seeking treatment is a good match and the physician is not at their government-imposed patient limit, the physician responds, often saving that patient's life. Patients are contacted at all times of the day or night and on weekends and holidays. Currently there are 3,132 participating physicians nationwide, with recruitment efforts ongoing.

Helping us make patients aware of this free service are a group of 3000 caring pharmacists that display literature about the service, concerned radio stations who are airing our public service announcement, Google who provided an in-kind advertising grant, and many counselors, therapists and emergency room caregivers who help patients get registered or pass out cards describing the TreatmentMatch service.

The US Department of Health and Human Services says this, "Treatment needs to be readily available. Because individuals who are addicted to drugs may be uncertain about entering treatment, taking advantage of opportunities when they are ready for treatment is crucial. Potential treatment applicants can be lost if treatment is not immediately available or is not readily accessible." TreatmentMatch.org is accessible to patients 24/7 and is a fast, easy and non-intimidating way for people to reach out for help.

Telemedicine physicians also use the system and can effectively cover 100% of the geography in the state in which they are licensed. Telemedicine physicians can conduct an entire visit over a video conferencing computer connection and fax or call in prescriptions to the pharmacy. This is lifesaving technology in rural areas or where there are no nearby physicians able to prescribe modern addiction treatment with buprenorphine. www.TreatmentMatch.org automatically connects patients to telemedicine physicians if available in their state.

Advocates can register on behalf of patients who do not have computer access themselves.

See a live real-time map of patients seeking treatment right now at: http://www.naabt.org/patients-seeking-treatment.cfm  

To learn more or get a free treatment resource kit visit www.naabt.org or to reach out for help right  now visit www.TreatmentMatch.org - NAABT.org is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization- established in 2005 www.naabt.org

For more information contact us at [email protected]

SOURCE National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment