Treatment for Opioid Dependency
Opioid dependency treatment is available to you and your family. Research and experience tells us that most people cannot just walk away from opioid addiction. Medication-assisted treatment (Suboxone, Sublocade, or methadone) is best practice and can help individuals to ‘feel normal again’ by controlling withdrawal, and cravings. Counselling, education, other supports and follow-up are also important and available.
If you have concerns related to opioid use, please don’t hesitate to contact any of these services:
Opioid Treatment Centre (OTC) is a provincial service located in St. John’s. The OTC has a team of physicians, nurses, addiction counsellors and pharmacist to provide medication-assisted treatment, education and support. OTC is not live-in. Individuals decide how long they would like to be involved in the program and are encouraged to participate for at least a year.
Location and Contact: Building 532, Charter Avenue in Pleasantville. Please call us at (709) 752-4478.
Methadone Maintenance Treatment Clinic is in Corner Brook and serves the Western region. Medication-assisted treatment (Suboxone or methadone), counselling and support are provided by an experienced registered nurse from Western Health and a physician from Central Health using telehealth.
Location and Contact: 35 Boones Road, Corner Brook. Please call us at (709) 634-4506.
Family physicians and nurse practitioners can prescribe medication-assisted treatment (Suboxone or methadone) and they are located throughout the province. Addictions counsellors are also available.
Location and Contact: Call 811 and a HealthLine nurse will provide you with contact information.
Treatment Centres provide a live-in option to help with recovery from an addiction. Contact your health care provider if you are interested in discussing referral to residential treatment.
For more information: See ‘Treatment Centres’ section on this website.
Correctional Centres– Please speak with healthcare staff at the facility regarding what specific opioid dependency treatment services are available.
Talk to your doctor, health care provider or counsellor about your opioid use concern. If you need to find a physician or counsellor in your area, please call 811 and a HealthLine nurse will provide you with contact information.
The Navigator for the provincial Mental Health and Addictions system is also available to assist with information and connections. Feel free to call 1-877-999-7598 or 752-3916.
To learn more about treatment, please visit:
Opioid Agonist Therapy: Information for Clients (CAMH, 2016)
National Guideline for the Clinical Management of Opioid Use Disorder (CRISM 2018)
Take Home Naloxone Kits
Get a Take Home Naloxone Kit if you are at risk of an opioid overdose or you might witness an overdose:
Call 911 right away if you think that someone is having an overdose.
Naloxone is a temporary medication that can save a life in the event of a fentanyl or other opioid overdose.
Naloxone Kits are free and instruction is provided.
Ways to find a Naloxone Kit near you:
Call 811 and a Healthline nurse will provide you with a contact number and location.
Click on the MAP of Distribution Sites.
Click here for a list.
To learn more:
Opioid Overdose and Naloxone, Information Sheet
Opioid Overdose – Prevent, Signs, Respond
Opioid Overdose Toolkit (Government of Canada)
Learn about opioids and the health risks, Government of Canada information and resources
Opioid Information for Teachers, Parents and Caregivers (Department of Health and Community Services NL pdf, 2017)