in an attempt to “better reflect” the services offered, regina’s harm reduction methadone clinic in regina has been renamed the opioid addiction treatment clinic (oat clinic), the saskatchewan healthy authority (sha) announced earlier this week.
the clinic provides medical treatment options for opioid addictions, an sha news release noted, adding the sha aims to improve access to integrated mental health and addiction services as part of this year’s strategic priorities.
“the sha recognizes that
developing an addiction can happen to anyone
and it can be difficult to seek services,” said the release issued thursday.
that includes treatment for opioid addiction as a response to the
misuse of opioids
within the community and reduce the risk of overdoses and deaths, the release said.
”we want to ensure that our services are easy to find, easy to access and offer patients their best opportunity to get started on their recovery journey,” dr. julia kapur, an sha family medicine physician at the oat clinic in regina, said in the release. “renaming the clinic provides a client-centred approach that offers clarity for all clients, referrals and the general public.”
opioid agonist therapy, also known as opioid addiction treatment, has been provided through what is now the oat clinic, for about 20 years. the clinic, which is funded and operated by the sha, uses a combination of medication, counselling and other community supports.