Addiction Medicine Clinics

Addiction medicine clinics offer a variety of treatments. These include medication to treat substance use disorders and counseling and behavioral therapy for co-occurring disorders. Some clinics also offer aftercare programs. They offer services in a variety of settings, including group therapy and individual sessions. These clinics also offer support groups and counseling to help patients learn healthy coping mechanisms. The University Health Network opened a rapid access to addiction medicine outpatient clinic in January 2018 in Toronto. The project META:PHI funded 46 rapid access addiction medicine clinics in Ontario, including nine sites in Toronto. These clinics were open to the public with no appointment or referral required. Patients were connected to RAAM clinics through peer, self, or a referral. Addiction medicine clinics have an important role in preventing and treating addiction. The country's biggest public health problem is caused by unhealthy substance use. Yet, only about 10% of people seeking help receive treatment. The mission of addiction medicine is to end the stigma associated with addiction and improve the lives of those who suffer from it. Addiction medicine clinics are staffed by credentialed doctors and provide science-driven prevention. Addiction medicine is a specialized field that requires special training. The American Society for Addiction Medicine was formed in 1954. It represents more than 7,000 addiction medicine practitioners. It promotes evidence-based medicine and envisions a future where addiction treatment is available to everyone. To this end, it has earned ACCME Accreditation, which means that it provides the highest standard of continuing medical education for physicians.