WORCESTER, Mass. - A new mobile treatment van is the first in the state to provide all three medications for opioid use disorder.
The van, run by Spectrum Health System, operates out of Worcester and offers methadone, suboxone and vivitrol. This service provides treatment to homeless individuals or people who can't make it to a spectrum site directly.
Opioid related deaths in Worcester are among the highest in the state. Spectrum Health regional executive director Heidi DiRoberto said the van will help increase access to recovery resources in the greater Worcester area.
"We have the mobile unit because many of these folks try to come to treatment at one of our brick and mortar programs and fail because they can't make it to the program every day," DiRoberto said. "We're really trying to see how well it takes off, but we really think that this is the the way treatment is heading, right, to go to where people need treatment instead of waiting for people to come to us."
The service also offers mental health support and recovery coaching. The program is funded by the Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Addiction Services.