OKLAHOMA CITY – Quapaw Counseling Services, an outpatient substance abuse treatment clinic specializing in methamphetamine and opiate addictions, located at 1301 SE 59th St in Oklahoma City, has been sold to the Absentee Shawnee Economic Development Authority of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma.  “The reason for the sale,” states Executive Director, Dan Cross, “is that the Absentee Shawnees have the jurisdiction here that the Quapaws did not.  However, under Absentee Shawnee Counseling Services, we will continue to offer the same excellent treatment to all people, native and non-native, that we have for the past four years here.”


Four and a half years ago the Quapaws expanded their operations from their Quapaw Counsel Services in Miami, OK to this location.  A sister clinic was later developed in Tulsa by the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees, Keetoowah Cherokee Treatment Services.  These three clinics are known statewide for their excellent treatment in these specialized areas of critical need.  The Tulsa clinic was chosen for a training video by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics to demonstrate the manner in which to run an Opioid Treatment Program.   Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) announced in March, 2008 that Oklahoma leads the nation in prescription painkiller abuse.


“We offer Medication Assisted Treatment at these clinics,” states Cross, “a SAMHSA clinical best practice proven to get the best results for opiate addiction.  National data shows that traditional treatment is effective 8-10% of the time while MAT is effective 70-75% of the time…  Often, we can skip impatient detox moving actively addicted people right into outpatient treatment.”  Treatment is low cost, with no out-of-pocket expense to people who are Medicaid or O-EPIC eligible. More information can be found at QCS-OKC.com.


Governor George Blanchard, Absentee Shawnee Tribe, remarked, “It is with great pride that the Absentee Shawnee  offer one of the best three Opioid Treatment Programs in the state.  I think that it is fitting that here in Native America,” a reference to the Oklahoma tourism theme, “that Native Americans offer the top three programs in the state.”  Blanchard will be conducting a blessing of the program at the Grand Opening Wednesday, October 12th from 2-4 PM. Ceremonies at 2:30 PM.