In the spring of 1993, a dedicated group of methadone treatment providers convened in Austin, Texas, driven by a shared concern over negative publicity surrounding methadone programs in the state. Recognizing the need for a unified voice, Oscar Jones of Lubbock, Texas, a visionary in the field, proposed forming a statewide association inspired by the Northeastern Methadone Association. This meeting led to the creation of the Texas Methadone Treatment Association, with Steven Tapscott as its first president and Oscar Jones as vice president. Among the founding members were Dr. Alex John, Jr., Moses Esquivel, Dr. James Sabal, and Farrukh Shamsi.

In the mid-2000s, reflecting the evolving landscape of treatment options and the association's growing membership beyond Texas, the organization rebranded itself as the United States Association of Opioid Treatment Providers.

USAOTP

The UNITED STATES ASSOCIATION of  OPIOID TREATMENT PROVIDERS

​JoBeth Rickard - Corpus Christi

Leesa Nelson - Lake Worth

Terry McEldowney - Lubbock

​Zeeshan Shamsi - Houston

Suggestions or opinions?

Email your thoughts, or come see us in person.

SAVE THE DATES 2025! See "Conference Info" 

Farrukh Shamsi, BS, MBA

 
Dr. Heinz Aeschbach M.D.

Rick Bingham BA, AADC, NCAC-II,LCDC

President:

Kirk McLaughlin - Lubbock

Vice President:​

Dr. Frank Setzler - Jacksonville

Secretary:

Reyna Bittle - ​Fort Worth

Treasurer:

​Kirk McLaughlin - Lubbock

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