MaineHealth opens mobile health unit for substance abuse care [Video]

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF DRUG USERS áDO NOT SEEKá TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER….A MAJOR CONCERN FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. TODAY IN PORTLAND….MAINE- HEALTH, ALONG WITH CITY LEADERS, UNVEILING THEIR NEW MOBILE HEALTH UNIT….THAT WILL OFFER ON-DEMAND TREATMENT FOR ANYONE IN THE CITY’S HOMELESS COMMUNITY THAT SUFFERS FROM SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE PSYCHIATRIC CARE. EXPERTS SAY PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL HEALTH OR DRUG ISSUES CAN AVOID TREATMENT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS BEYOND JUST A FEAR OF WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS. SOMETIMES IT’S ALSO JUST ABOUT A LACK OF AVAILABILITY AND AWARENESS. THIS IS A TANGIBLE REPRESENTATION OF A COMMITMENT BY MAINE MEDICAL CENTER AND THE CITY OF PORTLAND TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS WHERE THEY PRESENT THEMSELVES. THIS NEW MOBILE HEALTH UNIT AIMS TO BE A LOW-BARRIER TREATMENT CENTER.