According to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services administration, with the COVID-19 pandemic there will likely be a precipitous increase in overdoses and individuals in need of addiction and mental health treatment, further exacerbated by skyrocketing unemployment and the adverse economic impact.
The social distancing regulations put into place in the wake of the pandemic have revolutionized the way addiction and mental health treatment are provided via telehealth instead of traditional, in-person services. Tri-County Mental Health Services has met the challenges that COVID-19 created by providing phone and tele-health treatment visits for clients in need of substance use disorder treatment.
“Given the current guidance from the National Institutes of Health, we know that COVID-19 could hit some populations with substance use disorders particularly hard. Because it attacks the lungs, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 could be an especially serious threat to those who smoke tobacco or marijuana or who vape. People with opioid use disorder and methamphetamine use disorder may also be vulnerable due to those drugs’ effects on respiratory and pulmonary health. Additionally, individuals with a substance use disorder are more likely to experience homelessness or incarceration than those in the general population, and these circumstances pose unique challenges regarding transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19,” says Nicole Kenney, LADC, CCS, program clinical supervisor for substance use disorder services at Tri-County Mental Health Services.
Further, “In response to these potentially evolving health issues, Tri-County currently offers comprehensive phone and tele-health outpatient substance use disorder treatment services. Our staff are all licensed and certified to provide treatment and support services to link to other health services aligned with an individual’s individual recovery goals.
“We anticipate our offices will be open for in-person counseling later this summer and we can see clients in Bridgton, Farmington, Lewiston, Oxford, and Rumford offices,” Kenney continued. “Whether by phone, tele-health or in person, we conduct assessment, counseling, recovery support, co-occurring mental health treatment, tobacco cessation, driver education and evaluation program counseling, and medication assisted treatment referrals.
“We also offer treatment to individuals who are struggling with a significant other or family members’ use of alcohol or drugs,” she pointed out. “We have state grant dollars available and offer a sliding fee scale for individuals who have no ability to pay for treatment. We accept MaineCare, Medicare, and private insurance.”
Tri-County locations are 1155 Lisbon St.,Lewiston; 32 North High St., Bridgton,; 144 High St., Suite 1, Farmington; 143 Pottle Road, Oxford; and 49 Congress St. Appointments are available by calling 1-888-304-4673.
TCMHS’s mission is to offer hope to the people of Maine by providing trauma informed, integrated services that promote whole health and wellness. TCMHS is a 401(c) (3) non-profit federally qualified community mental health center with service sites for children, adults, and families throughout Western Maine.
