CHESTERFIELD, MO — Some states are developing new ways to prevent fentanyl and other drug overdoses, including a system that goes where it’s needed most. Places like Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Colorado and others have created mobile clinics that go directly to people who might not otherwise be able to get treatment for their addiction.
Assisted Recovery Centers of America (ARCA) in St. Louis provides drug-assisted outpatient treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. It recently launched a brand new mobile addiction clinic, the first of its kind in Missouri.
ARCA’s mobile clinic goes to uninhabited communities and other communities in need of care. Services are provided by professionals and include things like full medical exams, mental health assessments, medications, injections and more.
“Substance use as we know it has changed for many reasons…and that’s largely because of fentanyl,” said ARCA executive director Aaron Laxton.
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ARCA’s mobile addiction clinic in Chesterfield, MO. (Fox News)
ARCA sees itself as the center for addiction treatment in Missouri. For Laxton, the job is personal.
“I lost three family members to a fentanyl overdose,” Laxton said.
One of the family members was his niece, Heather Helton. Helton was taken off life support after an overdose and died on September 1, 2014.
“Every time I work, I’m working with someone I can relate to,” Laxton said.
Heather Helton on life support with her family. (Aaron Laxton)
Helton died at the age of 25. (Aaron Laxton)
Laxton said he’s also struggled with substance abuse throughout his life.
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“Fortunately, I’m in a different place now. I’m a sophomore in my PhD, I’m a licensed clinical social worker, I have a family. But all of that is just because I received care that we’re now transferring to other people,” Laxton said.
ARCA’s mobile clinic is now bringing life-saving addiction treatments directly to those in need.
“This actually started from the trunk of my car and goes to the community, to people who are homeless or haven’t had access to services,” Laxton said.
The beginning of the idea of ARCA’s mobile addiction clinic. (Aaron Laxton)
The director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Dr. Nora Volkow said fentanyl is the backbone of overdose deaths. dr Volkow said innovations like mobile clinics are incredibly effective.
“I’m absolutely hopeful. I don’t believe in fairy tales, but I’ve also seen how effective treatments can be when it comes to actually helping people achieve their recovery,” said Dr. Volkow.
ARCA CEO Percy Menzies said his calling to bring addiction treatment to the field of medicine began 23 years ago.
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A mobile addiction clinic by ARCA. (Fox News)
“ARCA’s strength has been medical detoxification and stabilization. When people come to us, they’re in severe withdrawal, they’re very scared, they just crawl out of their skin,” Menzies said.
Menzies said that treating them like drugs can make a big difference when it comes to breaking the cycle of withdrawal symptoms.
“Once you break that cycle, you can now take care of life when life stops. This includes housing, jobs and family participation. We give them hope that this is a very treatable disease and that you can get your life back on track,” Menzies said.
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Everything, including medicines, is completely free in the ARCA mobile clinic. All of this is funded by the states and the federal government.
Madison Scarpino joined Fox News in 2022 as a multimedia reporter based in St. Louis.
