A novel home- and community-based mobile outreach detoxification service for individuals identifying problematic substance use: implementation and program evaluation

The Mobile Withdrawal Management Service (MWMS) is a community-based outreach withdrawal service that supports individuals for up to 30 days. Clients may choose where services are accessed in the community, including their own home. For those without safe housing, short-term accommodation is offered. Additionally, Indigenous cultural support, peer support, trauma counselling, and linkage to primary care are available.The MWMS approach is resolutely patient-centred. The program meets people where they are at, both figuratively and literally. Agility and adaptability—particularly in the context of substance use treatment—is uniquely advantageous in maintaining service delivery to the broad demographic cross-section revealed in the data. Moreover, relative to inpatient detoxification services, MWMS holds significant potential for system-wide cost savings.