Opioid Treatment Program Hub
Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for persons diagnosed with opioid use disorder using any of three FDA-approved medications: methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. OTPs dispense medication and are certified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). If your program provides MAT for persons diagnosed with opioid use disorder but is not a CSAT-certified OTP, or if you are unsure of your program type, please
contact us to be connected with a resource specialist. To learn more about CARF’s accreditation for a full continuum of substance use disorder treatment, please visit our Behavioral Health page.
The duration of treatment, type of medication, and medication dosage should be based on the needs of each person served, and objective withdrawal criteria should be used. Services are directed at improving quality of life and functioning by reducing or eliminating the use of illicit substances (to reduce criminal activity and/or the spread of infectious disease) and fostering vocational skills, family relationships, and community involvement.
To be certified by SAMHSA, an OTP must be accredited by a CSAT-approved accrediting body like CARF. CARF accredits the majority of OTPs in the U.S.
Find an accredited provider here.
OTPs must select from the following core programs:
OTPs offer a comprehensive continuum of services and can also select from one of the following supplementary programs:
The following specific population designations may be added to a program:
Please refer to the
program descriptions for further details.
For more information on CARF opioid treatment program accreditation, please email
otp@carf.org, or call toll-free at (888) 281-6531.
CARF standards
The CARF standards are developed with the input of providers, consumers, payers, and other experts from around the world. As such, CARF standards are field driven and have international consensus. Each year, CARF updates its standards manuals to ensure that the standards are relevant and guide service excellence with current practices.
The Opioid Treatment Program Standards Manual and companion publications are available for purchase in the CARF Online Store.