Opioid Treatment and Naloxone

Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

Our team uses the Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT), also known as Medication-Assisted Treatment, and it involves the use of prescribed medications such as Suboxone® or methadone, to treat opioid addiction by decreasing withdrawal and helping with cravings.

OAT is the best available treatment for opioid use disorder and it is the best predictor of improved outcomes for people with opioid addiction. Research and experience tells us that most people cannot just walk away from opioid addiction. Medication-assisted treatment can help individuals to feel normal again and live healthy lives by controlling withdrawal and cravings. Under this program, clients begin and continue with Suboxone or methadone use under medical supervision. Counselling, education, other supports and follow-up are also an important part of this program.

What we do

• Ongoing support and monitoring, such as prescription management, medical follow-up, urine testing, counselling and treatment planning.
• Health, safety and risk reduction teaching and management.
• Linkages to community pharmacists, other addictions treatment services and social and health supports.

How to access this service

Opioid Treatment Centres

Regional Opioid Treatment Centres provide rapid access to medication-assisted treatment (suboxone or methadone). Services can also include peer support, counselling and links to other services. These centres are not live-in. Telehealth is an option to access the service. As well, the regional Opioid Treatment Centres can support community-based physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists and counsellors upon request.

Where we are

The following regional Opioid Treatment Centres are part of the new provincial Hub and Spoke model that is being implemented to improve access to opioid dependence treatment throughout the province.  Referral is not needed.  Call directly or discuss with your health-care provider:

St. John’s
Building 532, 80 Charter Avenue (Pleasantville)
Telephone: 709-752-4478
Fax: 709-752-4012

Gander
McCurdy Complex, 1 Markham Place
Telephone: 709-256-1356
Fax: 709-256-1357

Corner Brook
35 Boones Road
Telephone: 709-634-4506
Fax: 709-634-0160

Stephenville
127 Montana Drive
Telephone: 709-643-8740
Fax: 709-643-9054

Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Telephone: 709-897-2125
Fax: 709-896-4900

Family Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Many physicians and nurse practitioners can prescribe medication-assisted treatment (Suboxone or methadone) and they are located throughout the province. Counsellors are also available. Feel free to discuss any opioid-related concerns with your health-care provider.

If you do not have a physician or health-care provider, please call the 811 NL HealthLine and a registered nurse will give you contact information for your area.

Learn more about treatment:

• Opioid Agonist Therapy: Information for Clients – CAMH (PDF)
• Problematic Drug Use and Recovery: Testimonial Videos – Government of Canada

Take-Home Naloxone Kits

Call 911 immediately if you think that someone is having an overdose.

Naloxone is a temporary medication that can save a life in the event of a fentanyl or other opioid overdose.

Naloxone Kits and instruction are free.

Get a Kit

If you are at risk of an opioid overdose or you might witness an overdose, please find a Naloxone Kit near you:

• • Call 811 NL HealthLine and a registered nurse will provide you with a contact number and location.
  • Visit the interactive map of distribution sites.
  • Visit the list of distribution sites.

Learn more about Naloxone Kits:

• Opioid Overdose and Naloxone – Information Sheet (PDF)
• Opioid Overdose – Information Sheet: Prevent, Signs, Respond (PDF)
• Opioid Overdose Toolkit – Government of Canada
• Opioids and Health Risks – Government of Canada
• Fentanyl: Information for Teachers, Parents and Caregivers – Department of Health and Community Services N.L. (PDF)

Provincial Opioid Centre of Excellence

Hub and Spoke Model for Opioid Dependence Treatment
As a part of Towards Recovery: The Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador (PDF), the Opioid Dependence Treatment Working Group was established in Fall 2017. Under the direction of the Working Group, a new provincial Hub and Spoke Model for Opioid Dependence Treatment (ODT) was developed and is currently being implemented across many regions in our province.

The model also included the establishment of a Provincial ODT Centre of Excellence. Health Canada has provided funding to Eastern Health over three years under the Substance Use and Addiction Program (SUAP) for this important initiative. The Centre of Excellence is located in Eastern Health and is provincial in scope and mandate.
Goals of the Opioid Dependence Treatment Centre of Excellence include:

• Supporting the implementation of the provincial ODT Hub and Spoke Model
• Supporting the implementation of evidence informed ODT practices
• Strengthening ODT performance monitoring and evaluation
• Increasing opportunities for stakeholder collaboration
• Increasing opportunities for knowledge exchange and care provider development

Location

Provincial ODT Centre of Excellence
Building 532 Pleasantville (Roosevelt Avenue Entrance)
St. John’s, NL

Provincial ODT Centre of Excellence Staff Contact Information
Wayne Bishop, manager
Tel: 709-752-4596
Email: wayne.bishop@easternhealth.ca

Chelsea Hynes, administrative support
Tel: 709-752-4298
Email: chelsea.hynes@easternhealth.ca

Jane Henderson, harm reduction consultant
Tel: 709-752-4292
Email: jane.henderson@easternhealth.ca

Kate Lambert, knowledge exchange facilitator
Tel: 709-752-3573
Email: kate.lambert@easternhealth.ca