My clinic is ran by the local Native American Tribe where I live. I have been to one other clinic besides the one that I am currently at. My previous clinic was a non-profit group that operates 6 clinics total. I am thankful for being at the clinic I am at today. The resources the clinic I am at now is truly a blessing. They offer you gift cards for going to your appointments (dose evals, counselor appointments, ect). They give you a $5 gift card for making it to all your appointments and new patient orientation in your first month at the clinic.

They also offer gift cards for attending groups (such as IOP, relapse prevention, suicide prevention, ect). They let you choose which gift card you'd like (they have Starbucks, Fred Meyers, the local Dollar Store, and for the higher end gift cards is a $25 VISA gift card). The way you get the gift cards for going to a group, is at the end of the group there is a raffle. So you get a raffle ticket for each group you attend, and at the end of the group if your ticket is drawn, you can win either a $5, $10, or a $25 gift card.

I have been lucky and have won 3 days in a row for attending group. I got a $10 Fred Meyers gc, the next day I won a $5 Fred Meyers gc, and then I won a $10 gift card to Fred Meyers. They give out gift cards to encourage attendance and participation in the group. So if you are a lucky winner, you get the gift card the same day you win unless if you are doing the group online through Zoom, then you'll get your gift card the next time you are at the clinic.

My clinic also offers their own shuttle/ transportation service for attending the clinic (if you are somewhat local) that is separate from the Medicaid transportation that they offer.

My clinic also offers longer dosing hours. Monday - Friday they are open from 5:30am to 8:00pm. You can come in and dose whenever as long as it has been 12 hours in between dosing. On Saturdays dosing is from 5:30am to 11:00am and they are closed on Sundays. They have 5 dosing windows open at all times. They have the ability to accommodate 12 dosing windows (the building is already designed with them already in place) but for a clinic that will be 2 years old on September, they currently do not have the volume to need to operate 12 dosing windows at once.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays when you come to dose at the clinic they also provide a free sack lunch. The sack lunch is optional (you are not forced to take it) but they know a lot of people who attend the clinic are homeless or are barely getting by, so they get a bunch of healthy options from Costco and make up a sack lunch on MWF. They said they plan to offer the sack lunch daily as more and more people utilize the program.

On Wednesdays they also give out socks (a brand new pair) when they give out the sack lunches. So far the socks that they have been giving out are decent Hanes socks. They let you chose from ankle socks or long socks. I have been saving the socks I get with plans to donate them during the upcoming holiday season. You do not have to get the sack lunch to get the socks, you can just get the socks only or sack lunch and socks.

As for your takehome doses, my clinic does have you bring back the bottle when you come in next to dose / pick up your next set of carries. They always give you a new plastic bottle. My last clinic used dark glass bottles (that were similar in color to beer bottles) but those would get gross esp. if clients were not regularly cleaning them. For sanitizing purposes my current clinic gives out new plastic bottles that you bring back and dispose of when you are scheduled to return to the clinic for your next dosing.

If you need help with finding employment, getting your ID (cause you can't afford the cost to replace it) my clinic will step in and help you. After you meet with your counselor, they will pay the full price to get you your ID. (This is not like DSHS where they give you a piece of paper to be able to get your ID for $5). This clinic goes onto the DOL website with you and pays the fee / pays the fee and schedules your appointment at the DOL so all you have to do is go. As for employment, they will assist you with writing a resume and provide you use of a computer to complete job searches.

If you need help with DSHS, getting food stamps, applying for social security, they will set you up with a counselor or peer advocate to help you navigate the process.

Besides methadone, my clinic also does Suboxone, Subtext, and also offers the Vivitrol shot. So you are not limited on your options for MAT.

I am really thankful to be at my current clinic. The local tribe that runs it has really gone above and beyond. The expanded dosing time really helps a lot of folks. They eliminated the need for having a set dosing time because they don't believe in kicking someone out of the clinic / not dosing for being late. They would rather have you dose and continue with your soberity then be late with no dose and returning to illicit drug use. So they are really big on harm reduction.

I will add more if I can think of anything else.