Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

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The Pennsylvania Code website reflects the Pennsylvania Code changes effective through 54 Pa.B. 488 (January 27, 2024).

28 Pa. Code § 715.24. Narcotic detoxification.

§ 715.24. Narcotic detoxification.

 If a narcotic treatment program provides narcotic detoxification services, the narcotic treatment program shall develop and implement narcotic detoxification policies and procedures which include the following:

   (1)  For narcotic detoxification from methadone or any other narcotic, the detoxification service may not exceed 180 days.

   (2)  For calculating the 1-year narcotic dependency history required for admission to maintenance treatment, the narcotic detoxification period may not be included.

   (3)  A 1-year physiologic dependence is not required for narcotic detoxification although documentation of current dependency is required.

   (4)  Minimum requirements for short-term narcotic detoxification treatment are as follows:

     (i)   Take-home medication is not allowed during a 30-day narcotic detoxification treatment. A narcotic treatment program shall observe the patient ingesting the medication 7 days per week.

     (ii)   The narcotic treatment program shall perform an initial drug screening test or analysis.

     (iii)   The narcotic treatment program shall develop a treatment plan. The patient’s counselor shall monitor the patient’s progress toward the goal of short-term narcotic detoxification and possible drug-free treatment referral.

     (iv)   No narcotic treatment program may provide short-term narcotic detoxification treatment to an individual until at least 7 days after the conclusion of any previous short-term narcotic detoxification treatment.

   (5)  Minimum requirements for long-term detoxification treatment are as follows:

     (i)   A narcotic treatment program shall administer medication to allow a patient to attain drug-free status and to make progress in rehabilitation within 180 days or less.

     (ii)   A narcotic treatment program shall perform an initial drug screening test or analysis. A narcotic treatment program shall perform at least one additional random test or analysis monthly on each patient during long-term narcotic detoxification.

     (iii)   The narcotic treatment program shall develop an initial treatment plan, and update the plan monthly.

     (iv)   A narcotic treatment program shall observe the patient while ingesting the medication at least 6 days a week.

     (v)   No narcotic treatment program may provide long-term narcotic detoxification treatment to an individual until at least 7 days after the conclusion of any previous narcotic detoxification treatment.



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