The new Rapid Access Addiction Medicine Clinic is now open in Dunnville.
It is part of three different clinics will be providing service Norfolk, Haldimand, and Brantford 5 days a week.
The Dunnville facility at the War Memorial Hospital will be open Monday’s from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
The Brantford Facility at 347 Colborne Street East will be open Tuesday’s from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday’s from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Friday’s from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Simcoe facility, set to open on September 26th at 32 Robinson Street, will be open Thursday’s from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In a release, it pointed out a study conducted in 2013 and 2014 that found that 66 per cent of Haldimand and Norfolk adults over the age of 19 were regular drinkers, compared to the Ontario average of 60.5 per cent.
Furthermore, the Haldimand and Norfolk rate of opioid-related visits to Emergency Departments increased from 17.9 visits per 100,000 visits in 2006 to 44.3 visits per 100,000 visits in 2016.
Anyone over the age of 16 with symptoms of a substance use disorder or medical complications related to substance misuse – including mental health issues – can come to the RAAM Clinic.
The RAAM team can assist patients who may require medication-assisted treatments such as opioid replacement therapy and anti-craving medications for alcohol.
Patients can walk in or be referred by a primary care practitioner, community agency or hospital.
Services available through the RAAM Clinic include an assessment by a physician, nurse practitioner, and/or addictions psychiatrist.
Patients can also be seen by a concurrent disorder’s clinician, mental health case manager, mental health social worker, and an indigenous mental health and addictions counsellor.
Upon discharge from RAAM, patients are transferred back to their primary care provider, with ongoing counselling and psychosocial supports, as needed.
Patients who do not have a primary care provider are offered referrals through the RAAM Clinic.
The RAAM Clinic is a partnership between several agencies, including Grand River Community Health Centre, Haldimand War Memorial Hospital, Brant Community Healthcare System, St. Leonard’s Community Services, De dwa dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre, Canadian Mental Health Association Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk Branch, City of Brantford, and the Haldimand Family Health Team.