An epidemic of overdoses and deaths from opioids has forced caregivers to rethink how to attack the problem of drug addiction.
That's why you might soon see a white, unmarked recreational vehicles parked by schools, hospitals, jails, bus stations, libraries or along a city street. One of the region's major behavioral health groups rolled out two of the mobile units Tuesday to bring addiction treatment to where it's needed.
The idea is simple: Drive a team that includes nurses, counselors and peer advocates to locations in Erie and Niagara counties, helping fill gaps in access to substance abuse counseling and addiction treatment.
The two vehicles operated by BestSelf Behavioral Health are designed as treatment centers for people addicted to opioids, including heroin and prescription painkillers. They look plain vanilla from the outside but, inside, they sport a downsized version of a medical office, with a waiting area, physical exam room, restroom and desk for paperwork. They will soon be outfitted with telemedicine capabilities, so a doctor elsewhere can review patients as they come in and, if appropriate, prescribe a medication to treat addiction.