Mobile Services Bring Addiction Care To Clients 

Choosing addiction care takes courage and determination, even when treatment programs are easily accessible. Inaccessible care makes that decision much more challenging. 

Recently, mobile treatment services have become more common, making substance abuse care available to communities facing disadvantages. 

These programs bring counselors, medical doctors, and treatment resources on the road, parking in medical plazas and other accessible areas. 

How Mobile Services Combat Addiction

Mobile substance abuse programs provide the same care that a person may find in an outpatient addiction treatment center. 

However, doctors and addiction counselors deliver these services from a converted trailer or bus. 

These programs help treat and prevent addiction in various ways. 

Accessible Addiction Care 

Many people dealing with addiction want to recover but don’t have access to addiction care. Unhoused populations, for instance, may struggle to access treatment centers. 

Likewise, people who live in rural areas, which may be hours away from the nearest addiction care provider, may not be able to access care. 

Those who don’t have reliable transportation also face barriers to quality substance abuse treatment. 

Mobile addiction services bring treatment to people who otherwise may not have had access to it. 

By reducing transportation barriers, these programs increase the number of people who may receive addiction care. 

Reducing Financial Barriers 

The cost of addiction treatment also prevents many people from receiving care. Mobile health clinics address this barrier as well. 

Often, these programs offer their services for free or at a reduced cost, thanks to community donations, grants, and other forms of funding. 

Some programs accept Medicaid for addiction treatment, which also allows many clients to reduce the cost of care. 

Care Flexibility 

Some types of addiction treatment, such as inpatient addiction treatment, provide a large amount of structure but limited flexibility. 

Many people with addictions benefit from this kind of environment, as substance abuse can cause unpredictability and feelings of disconnection. 

Some people, however, require more flexibility. Outpatient addiction programs provide this flexibility, allowing people to recover while still going to work and maintaining their routines. 

Mobile substance abuse programs also provide this flexibility. Because they bring outpatient care into communities that otherwise may not have it, they remove a significant barrier that often keeps people from seeking treatment. 

What Services Do Mobile Addiction Care Providers Offer?

Mobile addiction services provide several types of addiction care. 

Within these programs, providers meet with their clients on a regular basis, encourage their recovery journey, and make treatment adjustments as needed. 

Medication-Assisted Treatment 

Often, mobile addiction centers specialize in treating opioid use disorder, one of the most common types of addiction in the United States. 

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is an evidence-based, effective treatment method for combating opioid abuse. 

MAT may use opioid medications, such as methadone or buprenorphine, that prevent withdrawal symptoms but do not cause a high when used appropriately. 

In some cases, MAT includes opioid antagonists, such as naloxone or naltrexone, to block the effects of opioids.

For example, several mobile clinics provide Vivitrol, an injectable brand of long-acting naltrexone that treats both opioid addiction and alcohol addiction. 

Counseling Services 

MAT programs are most effective when combined with counseling, which mobile addiction programs also provide. 

During sessions, counselors help their clients discover their reasons for using drugs, identify substance abuse triggers, and develop healthy, long-term coping mechanisms. 

Is Mobile Substance Use Disorder Treatment Effective?

Mobile substance use disorder treatment offers several advantages, and these advantages have helped many people achieve sobriety and maintain long-term recovery. 

A few studies have already demonstrated the effectiveness of mobile addiction care, particularly among marginalized communities. 

For instance, one study on mobile opioid addiction treatment explains that these programs often have better retention rates than brick-and-mortar treatment programs. 

Find Accessible Addiction Treatment Today 

Addiction is difficult, but many resources are available for people who want to begin their recovery, including free or low-cost treatment programs that reduce barriers to addiction care. 

If you or a loved one needs addiction services, contact Free Rehab Centers to discover treatment options. 

Published on August 2, 2023

Written by the Free Rehab Centers Editorial Staff