Canadian Mental Health Association, Peel Dufferin Branch - Etobicoke Satelite Location - Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) - Rexdale

Rapid Access Addiction Medicine(RAAM) works in collaboration with primary care, the emergency departments (William Osler Brampton, Etobicoke sites), shelters and other health service providers and first responders in supporting clients with addictions issues * provide immediate access to lifesaving treatment by offering same-day counselling and addiction medication

Services the RAAM Clinic provides:

• diagnose substance use disorders and concurrent mental health disorders
• initiates pharmacotherapy when indicated
• alcohol use disorders: naltrexone, acamprosate, gabapentin, disulfiram
• opioid use disorders: buprenorphine/ naloxone
• provides harm reduction interventions and advice
• overdose prevention guidance
• provides brief solution-focused counselling
• provides trauma-informed care
• makes appropriate links to community services for addiction, psychosocial, and social services
• link clients back to primary care when stable and connects clients to primary care providers if unattached
• educates and supports health service providers with information about addiction treatment
• provides advice and support to primary care physicians who have referred patients

RAAM is led by Nurse Practitioners with a multi-disciplinary team to assess, diagnose, treat and monitor clients who use substances, and has three components:

• Rapid Access Addiction Medicine Clinic
• Substance Use Intervention and Treatment Clinic
• Knowledge Exchange and Support