Sheppard Pratt celebrated the grand opening of its new Opioid Treatment Clinic, part of its Partners in Recovery Program, to increase access to comprehensive opioid addiction treatment and mental health care for residents in Baltimore County.
The new opioid treatment program located at Sheppard Pratt’s hospital campus in Towson, Maryland, provides urgent assessments, integrated mental health and substance use care, methadone treatment, and case management services through a multidisciplinary team. By offering medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and therapy services in one location, clients can address both their opioid addiction and any underlying mental health conditions.
“Due to a persistent shortage of integrated behavioral health care that incorporates medication-assisted treatment for people who have both substance use and mental health conditions, many do not receive adequate treatment, which leads to poor long-term health outcomes,” said Harsh K. Trivedi, MD, MBA, president and CEO of Sheppard Pratt. “It’s important to be able to address both substance use and mental health issues simultaneously, and Sheppard Pratt has the programs and expertise to do both.”
The clinic serves as the “hub” in Sheppard Pratt’s new hub-and-spoke network approach to opioid treatment. After a patient’s initial assessment and treatment at the hub, they are transitioned to the “spokes”, Sheppard Pratt’s Outpatient Mental Health Clinics in the community. The Outpatient Mental Health Clinics in Timonium and Rosedale offer medication-assisted treatment, psychotherapy, and in-person and telehealth counseling for long-term treatment to keep patients stabilized and out of the hospital.
“The hub-and-spoke model is a relatively new approach for Sheppard Pratt, emphasizing the importance of continuity in care and providing ongoing resources for patients once their status is considered stable,” said Jason Martin, PsyD, director of addiction services for Sheppard Pratt.
Maryland ranks fourth among states in overall drug overdose deaths, according to the most recently published data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Within the state, the Maryland Opioid Operational Command Center reports Baltimore County as the second highest number of opioid overdose deaths in Maryland.
“Headquartered in the heart of Baltimore County, this new opioid treatment clinic will significantly expand access to the lifesaving treatment our family, friends, and neighbors struggling with the disease of addiction need,” Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski said. “Every opioid overdose death is the tragic loss of a loved one, which is why our administration is proud to partner with Shepard Pratt in doing all we can to combat this epidemic by offering quality care to heal our communities and save lives.”
Launch of the Opioid Treatment Clinic and its hub-and-spoke network was supported in part by grant funding from the Maryland Opioid Operational Command Center and Baltimore County.
About Sheppard Pratt
Sheppard Pratt is the largest private, nonprofit provider of mental health, substance use, developmental disability, special education, and social services in the country. A nationwide resource, Sheppard Pratt provides services across a comprehensive continuum of care, spanning both hospital- and community-based resources. Since its founding in 1853, Sheppard Pratt has been innovating the field through research, best practice implementation, and a focus on improving the quality of mental health care on a global level. Sheppard Pratt has been consistently recognized as a top national psychiatric hospital by U.S. News & World Report for more than 30 years.
Learn more about Sheppard Pratt's comprehensive Addiction Services
8 out of 10 individuals with a substance use disorder also have a co-occurring mental health condition. From inpatient care to community-based treatment, Sheppard Pratt offers the comprehensive addiction and mental health services that help individuals recover and thrive.
