By Cecilia Nasmith
Northumberland Hills Hospital Community Mental Health Services has partnered with Peterborough Regional Health Centre and Four Cast Addiction Services to offer a new Rapid Access Addiction Medicine Clinic in Cobourg.
Open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., the clinic is located in the Northumberland Hills Hospital Community Mental Health Services offices on the second floor at 1011 Elgin St. W., offering expedited barrier-free treatment for individuals addicted to alcohol or opioids by a team of professionals experienced in treating people struggling with substance use – and who understand 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 judgment, the RAAM Clinic is designed to offer a healing environment to those seeking help with alcohol or opioid addiction,” the announcement said.
“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.”
Community Mental Health Services Integrated Director Jennifer Cox said services like this have proven very successful in other communities.
“Our primary goal is to help prevent overdoses. This is the aim,” Cox stated,
“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, and a similar service will be offered through the same partnership at Haliburton Highlands Health Services in Haliburton County.
To schedule an appointment at the Northumberland site, call the NHH Community Mental Health Clinic at 905-377-9891. Referral by a doctor or nurse practitioner is not required – self-referrals are welcome.
For more information on the full range of outpatient services available through the Community Mental Health Clinic, see the Patient Care Services section of the hospital's website.
