Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - MATTERS, an opioid treatment program created in partnerships with University at Buffalo, UBMD Emergency Medicine and NYSDOH are continuing to expand their services to other parts of the nation as well as advance in the rollout of their "no stigma" Narcan vending machines.
These free, blue vending machines dispense Narcan, the nasal spray that can help reverse opioid overdoses as well as test strips to detect fentanyl and Xylazine, dangerous and lethal substances now more commonly added to common street drugs.
"We know that patients are sometimes reluctant to walk into a building and ask for drug testing supplies," said Dr. Joshua J. Lynch, founder of MATTERS and emergency physician with UBMD. "Now, someone can just walk up to the machine, 24 hours a day, and type in a code that's listed on the outside of the machine. They enter their year of birth and their zip code, and they can select items (up to 3) out of the machine that they need."
Since last fall, MATTERS, which stands for “Medication for Addiction Treatment & Electronic Referrals,” have installed 12 machines throughout Western New York and the state, including one outside the HQ of the Kenmore Volunteer Fire Department. You can click here to find your closest machine.
Opioid-related deaths continue to rise in Erie County, more than 370 people died from opioid-related overdoses in Erie County last year.
Dr. Lynch described the work that the MATTERS program have done since the formation in 2016 for those with opioid problems, which includes a rapid referral program to expedite care, emergency telemedicine assessments, harm reduction services and programs that help those without health insurance.
"Our medication voucher program covers the cost of up to 14 days of buprenorphine for those without health insurance and we also offer a transportation voucher program for those that need assistance getting to and from their first clinic appointment.
To further reduce barriers to treatment for substance use disorder, MATTERS has partnered with several telemedicine organizations across New York State, including our services right here at in Buffalo, which provide emergency telemedicine assessments. Patients can connect to a virtual provider in as little as an hour, to be evaluated, receive a prescription for medication, and be referred to treatment through the MATTERS platform without ever leaving their home."
Lynch says there is more expansion to come for MATTERS in 2024.
"We'll launch a new, much more sophisticated referral platform to add efficiency in how we link individuals to treatment. We will add our referral platform to not only include opiate use disorder patients, but also other substance use disorder issues, mental health referrals, and other disease processes as needed."
And growth outside of New York State.
"We will be expanding our master's program into New Jersey and Pennsylvania in 2024 to further improve access to treatment for patients with substance abuse disorders in those states, in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Health and the Allegheny County Department of Human Services in Pittsburgh, MATTERS will launch pilot programs in both areas to facilitate linkage and provide access to medication."