Ideal Option Opens Addiction Medicine Clinic in Jonesboro


Ideal Option, a national leader in outpatient evidence-based treatment for addiction to fentanyl, methamphetamine, alcohol and other substances, is now welcoming new patients in Jonesboro. The new clinic is the fourth to open in Arkansas since June of last year and is located at 3637 E. Johnson Ave, Ste. B.

Since the pandemic began, substance use and overdose deaths have been on the rise all over the U.S., and markedly so in Arkansas. According to the Arkansas Opioid Response Dashboard, opioid-related overdose deaths increased by 101% from 2019 – 2020. Also in 2020, fentanyl, a dangerous and highly addictive synthetic opioid, surpassed methamphetamine as the leading cause of death in Arkansas, according to the AR State Crime Lab.

Treatment options for substance use disorder in Craighead County are limited. Of the 148 opioid treatment centers in Arkansas, only four are located in Craighead County and only three offer medication-assisted treatment, according to the AR Opioid Response Dashboard.

“There is a desperate need for addiction medicine providers in Arkansas and particularly those who are equipped to manage patients dependent on fentanyl, a notoriously difficult substance to stop using. Our lab data show a staggering increase in fentanyl use among enrolling patients this year,” said Dr. Brian Dawson, Chief Medical Officer at Ideal Option. “Among our Arkansas patients, 20% tested positive for fentanyl at enrollment in July 2021 – an 82% increase over July 2020.”

Ideal Option has clinical protocols designed specifically to assist patients through the difficult transition phase from fentanyl to buprenorphine. More information on these protocols was shared in a recent webinar presentation with Dr. Dawson, the recording of which can be found at http://www.idealoption.com/events.

The new Ideal Option clinic in Jonesboro is open Monday – Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. and is located at 3637 E. Johnson Ave, Ste. B, Jonesboro, AR 72401.

Most forms of insurance are accepted, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Total Care, Medicaid and Medicare, and patients can typically get started on treatment for fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, alcohol or other substances within 1-3 business days.

Patients can make an appointment by calling 1.877.522.1275 or visiting http://www.idealoption.com.

About Ideal Option

Headquartered in Kennewick, Washington, Ideal Option was founded in 2012 and has since helped nearly 50,000 patients through a network of over 70 office-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) clinics across 10 states, including 26 locations in WA state. With a mission to serve under-served communities, Ideal Option accepts all forms of insurance including Medicaid and Medicare. Financial assistance and payment plans are also available.

Ideal Option’s team of medical providers carry certifications in Addiction and Emergency Medicine, Internal, OB/GYN, and Family Medicine, among other specialties. The company also employs social workers, caseworkers, counselors, and mental health practitioners. This holistic approach helps drive positive outcomes, including family stability, stable housing, improved overall health, and reduced rates of recidivism.

In all the communities it serves, Ideal Option collaborates with existing stakeholders and providers to improve the continuum of care. This approach includes partnerships with emergency rooms and county jail systems, where individuals with substance use disorder often appear, as well as collaborating with numerous support agencies and municipal programs addressing social needs such as housing, mental health, and nutrition support.

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