The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) announced that they are renaming the Harm Reduction Methadone Clinic in Regina to the Opioid Addiction Treatment Clinic (OAT Clinic).
he said in one Press release That the new name is meant to better reflect the health services offered at the clinic, centered around medical treatment options for opioid addictions.
“We understood and heard for some time that we had some difficulties finding services and being able to understand the services offered at the clinic,” said Cathy Willers, director of community mental health and addiction. Sh.
“And then what exactly the client or patient can expect when they come into the clinic. So we were thinking about how to make it easier and have a name that is more descriptive of the service that is being offered. .
Opioid agonist therapy, also known as opioid addiction treatment, has been provided through this SHA-funded and operated Addiction Services clinic for nearly 20 years using a combination of medication, counseling, and other community support.
Willers said the services are going to remain the same. “People who come to an opioid addiction treatment clinic will be offered a team-based approach. And the services are really centered around the physicians in the clinic as a central service,” Willers said.
“And then there’s a team, which includes individuals like addiction counselors, addicts, nurses, outreach staff, and the elderly.”
He added that methadone will continue to be one of the treatment options that physicians can offer but not the only one in particular.
“Referencing methadone by the name of the clinic helps to illustrate that there are other options and some of them are new options in the world of addictions medicine in Saskatchewan,” Willers said. “So it was important to change the name of the clinic.”
Willers said there are many other services that are captured under the umbrella of loss reduction, and his staff can help customers access some of those safe supplies.
“Physicians meet with someone who comes to an opioid who is struggling with an opioid addiction and will work with them to decide on the most appropriate medication. One of the options available for them to choose from. Well, that would be methadone,” Willers said.
“If they also want to connect with addiction counselors, they can do so on-site. If they also want to participate in detox or residential inpatient treatment, they can help as well.
He added that OAT is one place where people struggling with opioid addictions can receive treatment, but not if they want a safe one that is offered at a safe consumption site or an overdose prevention site such as the Nuyo-Yotina Friendship Center in Regina. Will go
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