Province gives $230K for addiction treatment at North Bay’s hospital

North Bay gets $230,000 from the province to support addiction programs.

The Ontario government is providing $230,000 to the North Bay Regional Health Centre to increase access to two programs focused on medication-assisted treatment and intensive addictions treatment programs in Nipissing and across the province.

“Our government continues to support the North Bay Regional Health Centre to ensure patients and families can receive the care they need, when and where they need it,” Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli said in a news release Monday.

“This funding is part of the province’s larger investment to expand the delivery of Rapid Access Addictions Medicine (RAAM) clinics and the Addictions Day/Evening Treatment program.”

Hospital president and CEO Paul Heinrich said the money will help patients from across northeastern Ontario.

Addiction rates are rising

“We welcome this additional investment from the province to enhance and expand the services we provide to our communities,” Heinrich said in the release.

“Substance use disorders are projected to be one of the Top 5 fastest-growing chronic conditions in our region. This funding will strengthen our ability to respond to growing demand and ensure individuals and families can access the care and support they need, closer to home.”

The money includes $162,500 for the addictions day/evening treatment program and $66,875 for the Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) clinic.

“The RAAM clinic provides an opportunity for individuals with substance use issues to access safe, non-judgmental, specialized addiction medicine in a timely manner,” the release said.

“This multidisciplinary team combines addiction medicine (physicians who specialize in substance use disorder) with the psycho-social supports that many individuals struggling with substances require to improve their quality of life. After the individual’s addiction treatment has stabilized, they are referred back to primary care and other community supports.”

The day/evening addiction treatment program includes group and individual psychotherapeutic programming for those who are seeking to address concurrent substance use and mental health issues.

The treatment focuses on harm reduction and with a trauma-informed approach to care.”

To learn more about mental health, addiction, and problem gambling services, click here.