The private equity firm Bain Capital recently took over the largest U.S. chain of substance treatment facilities. Speaking of methadone clinics, like privatization of prisons, somebody always does well (CEOs and investors) — others not so well, be it potential for multigenerational incarceration, lower pay for staff or less staff, or lower quality care for clients due to less staff.
Marketing research has found a real opportunity in methadone clinics due to the 180 percent increase of heroin use in areas of our country. And while funding of nonprofit full-service methadone clinics continues, a more efficient model has been fully embraced in the efforts to privatize a moneymaker.
You see, nonprofit clinics normally require addicts to receive their methadone dose daily and see counselors regularly. Sometimes larger take-home doses can be provided depending on the client.
Take-home doses work so much better for the privatization model. You don’t need nearly as many counselors. Heck, you don’t need much of a staff at all, really. The addicts, that is, the clients “self-manage,” so to say.
