New Rapid Access Addiction Medicine Clinic to open in Northumberland
Northumberland Hills Hospital Community Mental Health Services (NHHCMHS) has partnered with Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) and Four Cast Addiction Services to offer a new Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic in Northumberland.
Open Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM, the Clinic, located in the NHHCMHS offices on the 2nd floor at 1011 Elgin Street West, offers expedited, barrier-free treatment for individuals who are addicted to alcohol or opioids. The team at the RAAM Clinic has experience treating people who are struggling with substance use and understands the difficulties that can be associated with seeking help.
Grounded in a philosophy for treatment and care that is client-centred, trauma informed and without judgement, the RAAM Clinic is designed to offer a healing environment to those seeking help with alcohol or opioid addiction. The RAAM team provides a safe space where clients can get help from a physician, nurse and addiction counsellor. Fast access to medication-assisted therapy is available for both alcohol and opioid use disorders, as well as support or referral for individuals not currently connected to addiction recovery services and resources.
“Services like this have proven very successful in other communities,” said Jennifer Cox, NHH’s Integrated Director, Community Mental Health Services. “Our primary goal is to help prevent overdoses. This is the aim. A secondary benefit of the RAAM Clinic is a reduction of emergency department visits and hospital stays for people with addictions. We are very pleased to be able to collaborate with our partners PRHC and Four Cast to offer this addition to NHH’s existing community mental health and addiction services. If you need help with substance use, consider reaching out to the RAAM team. We’re here to help.”
Appointment times are now being scheduled in Northumberland. A similar service will also be offered through the same partnership at Haliburton Highlands Health Services in Haliburton County.
To schedule an appointment at the Northumberland site, please call the NHH Community Mental Health Clinic at 905-377-9891. A doctor or nurse practitioner’s referral is not required. Self-referrals to the RAAM Clinic are welcome. For more information on the full range of outpatient services available through NHHCMHS please see the Patient Care Services section of the hospital’s website.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love