A Big Military Town Gets Reinforcements for Opioid Epidemic: CleanSlate Brings More Addiction Treatment to Norfolk, Virginia
For Virginia, fatal overdoses have been the leading cause of death since 2013. Opioids comprise more than three-fourths of these deaths.
One of the Virginian cities hit hardest by the opioid epidemic is Norfolk. The city ranks fourth in Virginia for overdoses, has a higher overdose rate than the national average, and has continued to experience increasing overdose deaths over the last several years.
“There’s no shortage of drugs in Norfolk, prescription or otherwise,” said Brian Coonan, Regional Director of Operations in Virginia. “The availability of medication-assisted treatment should be proportional. Norfolk residents deserve greater access to affordable, evidence-based addiction treatment, with the option of immediate walk-in visits when a patient is ready to take action.”
To address this need, CleanSlate is opening an outpatient medication-assisted treatment (MAT) center in Norfolk. The center will be embedded within the Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center at 160 Kingsley Lane, Suite 1A, and opens its doors to patients on June 12th.
“One of the challenges of addiction treatment is addressing the full range of a patient’s needs, which could include poly-substance abuse and co-occurring disorders,” said Anthony Belott, Chief Development Officer of CleanSlate. “By locating within one of the two major medical centers in Norfolk, CleanSlate can help patients who have survived an overdose the minute they are discharged from the ER and are perhaps most open to treatment. As patients continue with their recovery, we can more easily help them access other forms of care they may require, all on one campus.”
Related blog: Co-Occurring Disorders: The Link Between Addiction and Mental Health
Expanding quickly to save more lives
CleanSlate is a rapidly expanding national medical group that provides MAT and care coordination for opioid and alcohol use disorders, providing a full range of support that is tailored for each patient. This marks CleanSlate’s second treatment center in Virginia, along with a recently opened center in S. Richmond. CleanSlate plans to participate in-network with most Medicaid and commercial providers in Virginia so that Norfolk patients can be treated with minimal or no financial burden.
By increasing access to affordable, convenient addiction treatment, CleanSlate is saving lives in the communities where it operates. Over the past decade, the company has treated more than 41,000 patients, with more than 14,000 patients currently being treated each month across 11 states.
“We are a caring national provider that is dedicated to combating opioid addiction and restoring hope for our patients,” said Jody Clark, Center Manager for CleanSlate Norfolk. “I know that the residents of Norfolk will benefit from the quality of care and experience that CleanSlate brings to treating this devastating disease.”
Related blog: “Now I Can Buy Groceries!” What Insurance Coverage Vs. Cash For Addiction Treatment Means To Patients
Thriving city with shortage of providers
Home to the largest Navy base in the world as well as one of NATO’s Strategic Command headquarters, Norfolk is the second-most populous city in Virginia and considered to be the urban and financial center of the region.
Still, Norfolk is woefully short of addiction treatment services for its residents.
Virginia ranks 18th amongst all states for overdose deaths. In 2015, fatalities involving illicit opioids surpassed those from prescription drugs, and since 2016, fentanyl has been responsible for more than 50% of the overdose deaths in the state.
The crisis promoted Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe to declare a state-wide public health emergency last year, a declaration which continues to stand today. The state has received $35M from the federal government over the last three years to fund drug interdiction, create syringe exchange programs, and to help ex-convicts find treatment options.
Virginia has also beefed up efforts such as education, prevention, and legislative changes – such as a “safe-reporting” law that protects those who call for help when someone overdoses. Also promising: a recent expansion of Medicaid in the state and plans to begin attaching payments to patient outcomes over the next few years in order to financially incentivize better treatment.
Despite these and other measures, Virginia still suffers from a high overdose rate and a shortage of MAT providers.
“At CleanSlate, we think of ourselves as Warriors for Hope,” said Clark. “In Norfolk, we’re looking forward to working with key community stakeholders to help people achieve recovery and reclaim their lives.”
To make an appointment at CleanSlate’s Norfolk center, please call 855-505-4673, or walk into our center at Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center, at 160 Kingsley Lane Suite 1A. To find out more details about this center, click here. To schedule an appointment at any CleanSlate center, please visit https://www.cleanslatecenters.com to find the center nearest you. All CleanSlate centers accept walk-ins.
Founded in 2009 in response to the country’s growing opioid epidemic, CleanSlate’s physician-led offices utilize MAT and related therapies to treat patients who suffer from addiction, adhering to the highest quality, evidence-based practices. Learn more about CleanSlate Virginia alcohol recovery centers at www.cleanslatecenters.com, and sign up for our newsletter to receive regular insights about addiction and the opioid epidemic. For media inquiries, please contact Amy Brunson at abrunson@cleanslatecenters.com
Read More:
Virginia’s State of Emergency with Opioid Epidemic Prompts CleanSlate to Open Addiction Center in South Richmond
Why It’s So Easy For People With Alcoholism To Live In Denial
“We’re In This Together;” Addiction Patients In Emerging Medication-Assisted Treatment Support Groups Discover A Community They Didn’t Think Existed
