Addiction Solutions tells contract review committee it provides no-cost opioid treatment, seeks sustainability and prevention funding

Addiction Solutions told the Nantucket Contract Review Committee on June 6 that it operates a mostly no-cost opioid treatment clinic on the island and is asking for grant funding to sustain and expand both treatment and prevention work.

The group described its current clinical schedule, staffing, harm-reduction services and outreach plans and answered committee questions about capacity, wait lists and partnerships.

The presentation was led by Maureen McAllister, a member of Addiction Solutions’ board, and Juan Brigg, who identified himself as the organization’s founder. They were joined by physician Katrina Armstrong and at least one other physician, Dr. Lepore, who the presenters said would support clinical questions. Committee chair Veronica Volczyk and members Sue Mintonan, Linda Williams and John Baloche asked follow-up questions about hours, demand and program details.

“ We have had a success because we're over a year without an overdose death,” Juan Brigg said, describing the group’s recent outcomes. He and other presenters said the program provides treatment for opioid and alcohol use disorders, makes 24/7 outreach available by phone and will see people quickly rather than placing them on a wait list. Brigg said clinic hours currently include Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Friday mornings; staff will arrange visits outside those times when needed.

Dr. Katrina Armstrong, a board‑certified infectious‑disease and addiction‑medicine physician who said she has treated patients in collaboration with the group, highlighted the clinic’s use of longer‑acting medications. “The long acting injectable medications are lifesaving,” Armstrong said, describing the value of injectable buprenorphine and injectable medications for alcohol use disorder that can cover patients for up to 30 days and reduce barriers such as pharmacy access.

Presenters described clinical practices used at each visit: regular toxicology testing, bio‑psycho‑social assessments by a licensed social worker, and an injection clinic staffed by nurses and clinicians to deliver long‑acting medications. They also said the program works with local emergency‑department physicians, probation officers and police on diversion and continuity of care so patients can receive outpatient treatment rather than incarceration.

Committee members asked whether current hours create a backlog. Brigg said there is no formal wait list because Addiction Solutions prioritizes immediate needs: “When we have somebody that is in need of help, we're gonna see them,” he said. Presenters acknowledged some near‑miss overdoses but said outreach and testing help staff re‑engage clients who slip from care.

On prevention, Dr. Armstrong described school and community outreach the group seeks to expand, including classroom talks for high‑school students and sessions for parents and teachers about harm reduction and recognizing signs of substance misuse. Presenters said they are coordinating with hospital staff and local organizations that serve people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.

The committee did not take a funding vote during the interview; the session was an applicant presentation and Q&A as part of the committee’s grant review process. Presenters left committee members with contact information and offered to answer follow‑up questions.

The Contract Review Committee will collect rubric scores and deliberate on funding at its next scheduled decision meeting on June 27.