Detoxification and opioid substitution therapy

Other licensing criteria

• Licence applications must be accompanied by a copy of the health care provider’s pharmacotherapy policy as well as a written description of pharmacotherapy procedures.
• In supported living facilities, opioid substitution therapy can only be administered as a form of follow-up treatment. A private health care licence is always required.
• Only specialist substance abuse service providers can administer opioid substitution therapy in people’s homes or as part of home-based nursing.

Licensing criteria for different kinds of service providers

1. Hospitals

- Director:

• licensed medical practitioner who specialises in addiction medicine OR
• licensed medical practitioner with at least two years of clinical experience in addiction medicine in Finland (including assessment of the need for opioid substitution therapy and administering treatment)

- Staff:

• 1.5 health care professionals per patient
• at least two members of staff always on duty at the same time, one of whom must be a licensed health care professional (such as a registered nurse) and the other a health care professional with a protected occupational title (such as a practical nurse)
• health care professionals with a protected occupational title and social workers need to be trained on the job before they can participate in the administering of detoxification or opioid substitution therapy

2. 24-hour rehabilitation / substance abuse / detoxification facilities

- Director:

• licensed medical practitioner who specialises in addiction medicine OR
• licensed medical practitioner with at least two years of clinical experience in addiction medicine in Finland (including assessment of the need for opioid substitution therapy and administering treatment)

- Staff:

• 0.8 social welfare or health care professionals per customer
• at least two members of staff always on duty at the same time, one of whom must be a licensed health care professional
• health care professionals with a protected occupational title and social workers need to be trained on the job before they can participate in the administering of detoxification or opioid substitution therapy

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3. Out-patient clinics

- Director:

• licensed medical practitioner who specialises in addiction medicine OR
• licensed medical practitioner with at least two years of clinical experience in addiction medicine in Finland (including assessment of the need for opioid substitution therapy and administering treatment)

- Staff:

• at least two members of staff always on duty at the same time, one of whom must be a licensed health care professional