California Code of Regulations
Title 9 - Rehabilitative and Developmental Services
Division 4 - Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs
Chapter 4 - Narcotic Treatment Programs
Subchapter 5 - Patient Treatment
Article 4 - Take-Home Medication Privileges
Section 10375 - Step Level Schedules for Methadone Take-Home Medication Privileges

Universal Citation: 9 CA Code of Regs 10375

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) A methadone patient shall not be placed on a take-home medication schedule or granted a step level increase until he or she has been determined responsible in handling narcotic medications as specified in Section 10370(a). Each program shall adhere to the following schedules with respect to providing a patient with take-home medication privileges permitted under Section 10370(b):

(1) Step I Level -- Day 1 through 90 of continuous maintenance treatment, the medical director or program physician may grant the patient a single dose of take-home supply of medication per week. The patient shall attend the program at least six times per week for observed ingestion.

(2) Step II Level -- Day 91 through 180 of continuous maintenance treatment, the medical director or program physician may grant the patient not more than a two-day take-home supply of medication per week. The patient shall attend the program at least five times per week for observed ingestion.

(3) Step III Level -- Day 181 through 270 of continuous maintenance treatment, the medical director or program physician may grant the patient not more than a three-day take-home supply of medication per week. The patient shall attend the program at least four times per week for observed ingestion.

(4) Step IV Level -- Day 271 through one year of continuous treatment, the medical director or program physician may grant the patient not more than a six-day take-home supply of medication per week. The patient shall attend the program at least one time per week for observed ingestion.

(5) Step V Level -- After one year of continuous treatment, the medical director or program physician may grant the patient not more than a two-week supply of medication. The patient shall attend the program at least two times per month for observed ingestion.

(6) Step VI Level -- After two years of continuous treatment, the medical director or program physician may grant the patient not more than a one-month take-home supply of medication. The patient shall attend the program at least one time per month for observed ingestion.

(b) Nothing in this section shall prevent any program from establishing in its individual protocol any take-home medication requirement that is more stringent than is specified in the schedule contained herein.

(c) In the case of a patient who transfers to the program from another program without a break in treatment, the new medical director or program physician may consider the time the patient has spent at the former program when considering the patient's eligibility for take-home medication privileges, as well as for advancement to a new step level. In no case shall any patient be placed, upon admission, at a step level higher than that which was occupied in the former program immediately before transferring to the new program.

1. Change without regulatory effect renumbering and amending parts of former section 10234 to 10375 filed 6-3-91 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 91, No. 34).
2. Amendment of section heading, section and NOTE filed 3-15-96 as an emergency; operative 3-15-96 (Register 96, No. 11). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 7-13-96 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
3. Amendment of section heading, section and NOTE refiled 7-8-96 as an emergency; operative 7-12-96 (Register 96, No. 28). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 11-12-96 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
4. Amendment of section heading, section and NOTE refiled 10-23-96 as an emergency; operative 10-29-96 (Register 96, No. 43). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 2-26-97 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
5. Amendment of section heading, section and NOTE refiled 2-11-97 as an emergency; operative 2-24-97 (Register 97, No. 7). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 6-24-97 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
6. Certificate of Compliance as to 2-11-97 order transmitted to OAL 3-4-97; disapproved by OAL and order of repeal as to 2-11-97 order filed 4-15-97 (Register 97, No. 16).
7. Amendment of section heading, section and NOTE filed 4-15-97 as an emergency; operative 4-15-97 (Register 97, No. 16). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 8-13-97 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
8. Certificate of Compliance as to 4-15-97 order, including amendment, transmitted to OAL 6-2-97 and filed 6-13-97 (Register 97, No. 24).
9. Change without regulatory effect amending NOTE filed 4-19-2006 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2006, No. 16).
10. Amendment of section heading, section and NOTE filed 5-7-2020; operative 7-1-2020 (Register 2020, No. 19).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 11750, 11755, 11835, 11839.3 and 11839.20, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 11839.3 and 11839.20, Health and Safety Code.

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