琉璃神社鈥檚 opioid agonist treatment clinic is expected to be able to help twice the patients as before following an influx of funding from the province and Interior Health.
On Friday, Addictions Minister Judy Darcy announced that three new physicians and two nurse practitioners would be added to the clinic, which would allow the facility to offer treatment on evenings and weekends.
Opioid agonist treatment (OAT) is an evidence-based, first-line treatment that uses prescribed medications, such as suboxone and methadone.
鈥淓very day, here in 琉璃神社 and across B.C., we see how OAT saves lives, reduces withdrawal symptoms, and helps people find a pathway to healing and hope,鈥� said Darcy. 鈥淓xpanding access to this life-saving treatment means that more people can get the help they need when they need it.鈥�
TODAY: has added 3 new doctors + 2 new nurse practitioners to its Opioid Agonist Treatment clinic in . More staff will allow the clinic to take patients on evenings and weekends.
鈥� Kat Slepian (@katslepian)
The clinic鈥檚 increased hours will allow it to adopt a 鈥渞apid access model鈥� of walk-in access from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and appointments in the evening and weekends will help patients who otherwise can鈥檛 get in during work hours.
Interior Health board chair Doug Cochrane said that 鈥減articularly in light of the ongoing overdose emergency, we need to remove as many barriers to service as possible.鈥�
The overdose crisis claimed 232 lives in Interior Health鈥檚 area in 2018.
READ MORE: B.C. opioid overdoses still killing four people a day, health officials say
READ MORE: B.C. moves to curb high number of overdose deaths by recent inmates
Like us on and follow us on .
