LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A central Arkansas medical group is taking steps to help those addicted to opioids.
It's an ongoing crisis in the Natural State and nationwide, but bringing the treatment closer to home in rural communities could make a difference.
"This has been our dream for quite some time," River Valley Medical Wellness Chief Operating Officer Tucker Martin said.
Martin helped bring the idea of mobile healthcare to life, where the Arkansas Mobile Opioid Recovery Unit comes in.
It's currently in its soft launch stage, going to rural communities. So far, it has been serving patients in Malvern.
"A lot of people in rural communities have to travel upwards to 40 miles to get to high-quality healthcare," Martin said. "That bothers us very deeply."
Now, they're meeting them where they are to expand their reach.
Martin said it will operate similarly to River Valley Medical Wellness clinics in Russellville and Hot Springs and can offer services other than addiction treatment.
"Under one roof, you can get family medicine services, right? If you need a flu shot or a wellness checkup, we do that," Martin said. "Then we provide mental health services through therapy, psychiatric services and medical management."
Martin explained that the goal is to see patients more than once.
Martin, who is in long-term recovery himself, said he knows how important it is to build relationships with those going through the same thing.
That's why he and Peer Recovery Specialist Russell Boyd do this today.
"I felt like God was putting me on that path," Boyd said. "I'm a person with lived experience from drug, alcohol and mental health issues... everybody that comes in, I see them, and just offer that support to get them to that next step in their life.'
Boyd has been clean for eight years and hopes to see similar success stories for Arkansans statewide.
Additionally, he also trains everyone who comes on the bus how to use naloxone.
"I'm always there to help them, you know, along the way to walk alongside them," Boyd said.
ARMOR's phone number is 833-280-5313, which operates 24 hours a day for people in a crisis.
Martin said he plans to have all the locations listed on the website in the coming days and have the unit on the road five days out of the week.
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