Training Description:
This session explores methadone through a dual lens—medical toxicology and state-level policy—to equip providers with practical tools for safer, more integrated care. Lewis Nelson, MD will examine methadone’s pharmacology, toxicological risks, and its role in acute care, including overdose response and withdrawal management. Maria Mejia, MD will focus on Florida-specific [hard to not include federal?] regulatory and management issues, offering insights into licensing, oversight, and challenges faced by providers navigating methadone treatment systems. This session is especially relevant for clinicians, administrators, and public health professionals seeking to bridge medical and mental health care in addiction treatment settings. Attendees will leave with actionable knowledge to improve patient safety, treatment access, and cross-sector collaboration.
Learning Objectives:
Objective 1: Describe methadone’s pharmacological and toxicological profile and implications for acute care and overdose management
Objective 2: Discuss clinical considerations for methadone in opioid use disorder treatment
Objective 3: Identify practical strategies to navigate clinical, regulatory, and systems-level challenges in methadone care.
Presenters:
Lewis Nelson, MD
Maria C. Mejia MD
Charles E. Schmidt College
of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University
Lewis Nelson MD, Dean, Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University
Dr. Lewis S. Nelson is a nationally recognized expert in medical toxicology, emergency medicine, and addiction medicine. He currently serves as the Dean of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University. Prior to this role, Dr. Nelson was the Professor and Chair of Emergency Medicine and Chief of the Division of Medical Toxicology and Addiction Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He has also held leadership positions at the University Hospital of Newark and the New Jersey Poison Information & Education System. Board-certified in emergency medicine, medical toxicology, and addiction medicine, Dr. Nelson has over three decades of experience in clinical care, research, and medical education. His work focuses on the medical and social consequences of substance use, including opioid overdose and withdrawal, alcohol withdrawal, and alternative pain relief strategies. He has contributed significantly to health policy, clinical practice, and education, and is the senior editor of Goldfrank’s Toxicologic Emergencies, a leading textbook in the field. Dr. Nelson has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications and has received numerous accolades, including the Career Achievement Award from the American College of Medical Toxicology.
Maria Carmenza Mejia, MD, MPH, FACPM, FASAM Professor, Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University
Dr. Maria Mejia is a nationally recognized physician and leader in addiction medicine and public health, with extensive experience advancing substance use treatment and behavioral health services across clinical and community settings. Her work has focused on expanding access to evidence-based care for opioid, alcohol, and tobacco use disorders, as well as medically managed withdrawal services, through direct clinical practice, referral pathways, and program development. She has led initiatives to integrate addiction and behavioral health services for women and families, and developed culturally responsive interventions to support patient engagement in treatment. Dr. Mejia has extensive experience referring and supporting individuals in methadone treatment programs as part of broader care coordination efforts. She has also contributed to national projects aimed at integrating substance use prevention, screening, and treatment strategies into primary care and community-based settings, with support from agencies including the NIH, SAMHSA, CDC, and others. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and received multiple recognitions for her contributions to the field.
