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Montana Health Officials Announce Drug Treatment Pilot Program

Montana state health officials Wednesday announced a two-year pilot program that will expand treatment to Montanans who use meth and other stimulants.

A nearly $1 million federal grant has allowed the state to contract with six providers that could provide treatment to over 400 Montanans over the next two years.

Zoe Bernard with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services says the program, known as Treatment of Users of Stimulants, or TRUST, is the only evidence-based system for treating stimulant use disorders. Bernard adds that meth-related deaths statewide in 2019 exceeded the national average and is leading to real costs for Montana families.

“And methamphetamine was listed as the primary drug in 65.3% of CFSD [Child and Family Services Division] child removals.“

Treatment will be provided through various providers in Great Falls, Billings, Havre and Butte.

The state will add another six providers in 2022.

Aaron graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Journalism in 2015 after interning at Minnesota Public Radio. He landed his first reporting gig in Wrangell, Alaska where he enjoyed the remote Alaskan lifestyle and eventually moved back to the road system as the KBBI News Director in Homer, Alaska. He joined the MTPR team in 2019. Aaron now reports on all things in northwest Montana and statewide health care.
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