ELORA – A Rapid Access Addiction Clinic (RAAC) is currently being offered in rural Wellington through in-kind services offered in partnership with Dr. Jane Dennis and the Upper Grand Family Health Team.
The RAAC team will be working to determine how the clinic can best meet addiction-related healthcare needs for residents of rural Wellington.
RAAC is a specialized medical clinic providing quick and easy access to treatment for individuals of all ages who are experiencing health issues related to their drug and/or alcohol use.
People seeking support to address substance dependence, help to reduce cravings, those using substances to avoid withdrawal symptoms, who have health concerns related to substance use, or need a place to talk about substance use without judgment can find help at the RAAC.
The clinic offers both walk-in and booked appointments, allowing for rapid access and treatment from a multi-disciplinary team that includes a physician, a counsellor and a peer worker with lived experience of addiction and recovery.
RAAC is a short-term service with the goal of connecting patients to primary care providers for ongoing care.
The Rural Wellington RAAC is one of four RAAC in Waterloo-Wellington. The others are the Guelph RAAC at the Sanguen Heath Centre – Guelph CHC, the Kitchener-Waterloo RAAC at the Grand River Hospital Withdrawal Management Centre, and the Cambridge RAAC at the Waterloo Region Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic.
The Rural Wellington RAAC opened Jan. 7 out of the Upper Grand Family Health Team’s Elora location (143 Metcalfe Street), providing a half-day clinic on Mondays.
Officials have announced that a demonstrated need for this service has resulted in the clinic transitioning to a full-day service on March 4. The clinic will offer booked and walk-in appointments on Mondays from 9am to 3pm.
RAAC does not provide diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain, narcotic prescriptions beyond those intended for management of withdrawal symptoms, or long-term medical or addiction counselling services.
To schedule an appointment at the RAAC call 1-844-722-2977. More information about the RAACs across Waterloo-Wellington can be found at www.raacww.ca or by calling 1-844-722-2977.
