(b) A physician with authority to prescribe must consider the criteria in this subdivision in determining whether a client may be permitted unsupervised or take- home use of such medications. The criteria must also be considered when determining whether dispensing medication for a client’s unsupervised use is appropriate to increase or to extend the amount of time between visits to the program. The criteria include: (1) absence of recent abuse of drugs including but not limited to opioids, nonnarcotics, and alcohol; (2) regularity of program attendance; (3) absence of serious behavioral problems at the program; (4) absence of known recent criminal activity such as drug dealing; (5) stability of the client’s home environment and social relationships; (6) length of time in comprehensive maintenance treatment; (7) reasonable assurance that take-home medication will be safely stored within the client’s home; and (8) whether the rehabilitative benefit the client derived from decreasing the frequency of program attendance outweighs the potential risks of diversion or unsupervised use. (c) The determination, including the basis of the determination, must be consistent with the criteria in this subdivision and must be documented in the client’s medical record. Subd. 6. Restrictions for unsupervised or take-home use of methadone hydrochloride. (a) In cases where it is determined that a client meets the criteria in subdivision 5 and may be dispensed a medication used for the treatment of opioid addiction, the restrictions in paragraphs (b) to (g) must be followed when the medication to be dispensed is methadone hydrochloride. (b) During the first 90 days of treatment, the take-home supply must be limited to a maximum of a single dose each week and the client shall ingest all other doses under direct supervision. (c) In the second 90 days of treatment, the take-home supply must be limited to two doses per week. (d) In the third 90 days of treatment, the take-home supply must not exceed three doses per week. (e) In the remaining months of the first year, a client may be given a maximum six- day supply of take-home medication. (f) After one year of continuous treatment, a client may be given a maximum two- week supply of take-home medication. (g) After two years of continuous treatment, a client may be given a maximum one-month supply of take-home medication, but must make monthly visits.
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