New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules
He - Department of Health and Human Services
Subtitle He-A - Former Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention
Chapter He-A 300 - CERTIFICATION AND OPERATION OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG DISORDER TREATMENT PROGRAMS
Part He-A 304 - CERTIFICATION AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR OPIOID TREATMENT PROGRAMS
Section He-A 304.02 - Definitions

(a) "Buprenorphine" means a synthetic opiate with partial agonist actions used in the treatment of opioid use disorder.

(b) "Bureau" means the New Hampshire bureau of drug and alcohol services or successor program area within the department of health and human services.

(c) "Client" means a person who is enrolled in and receiving services from an opioid treatment program certified under these rules. This term does not include patients who are prescribed buprenorphine by a licensed practitioner practicing within a certified opioid treatment program.

(d) "Critical incident" means any actual or alleged event or situation that creates a significant risk of substantial or serious harm to physical or mental health, safety, or well being, including but not limited to:

(e) "Heroin" means an illegal semi-synthetic drug produced from the morphine contained in sap of the opium poppy, and known to have the potential for devastating addictive properties in vulnerable individuals.

(f) "Licensed counselor" means a master licensed alcohol and drug counselor (MLADC), a licensed alcohol and drug counselor (LADC), or a licensed mental health professional who has demonstrated competency in the treatment of substance use disorders.

(g) "Licensed practitioner" means a medical professional legally practicing within their scope in the State of New Hampshire, is authorized to dispense synthetic opioids for the treatment of substance use disorders, and who is employed by or under contract with the opioid treatment program and practicing under the supervision of the program's medical director.

(h) "Licensed supervisor" means an MLADC, a LADC who is also a licensed clinical supervisor (LCS), or a licensed mental health professional who has demonstrated competency in the treatment of substance use disorders.

(i) "Methadone" means a legal drug, methadone hydrochloride, which is a synthetic opioid that has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment agent for opioid use disorders.

(j) "Methadone/buprenorphine maintenance services" means treatment services which substitute methadone, or any of its derivatives, or buprenorphine, over time, to relieve withdrawal symptoms of opioid use disorder, to reduce craving, and to permit normal functioning and engagement in rehabilitative services.

(k) "Methadone/buprenorphine withdrawal management" means the dispensing of methadone, buprenorphine, or a similar substance in decreasing doses to a client in order to reduce or eliminate adverse physiological or psychological effects incident to the withdrawal from the sustained use of opioids.

(l) "Opioid treatment program (OTP) " means a substance use disorder program which dispenses methadone/buprenorphine for the purpose of opioid withdrawal management, maintenance, treatment, and rehabilitation services.

(m) "Opioids" means a group of morphine-like substances that are:

(n) "Plan of correction (POC) " means a plan developed and written by the certificate holder, which specifies the actions that will be taken to correct non-compliance with applicable rules or codes identified at the time of an inspection or during the course of a complaint investigation.

(o) "Sentinel event" means:

(p) "Split dose" means the division of the client's daily dose of methadone or buprenorphine into 2 separate doses. This term also includes "split dosing."