By Francie Williamson, Communications Coordinator, Department of Psychiatry

On Dec. 8, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics will begin offering walk-in visits to those seeking medication treatments for substance use disorders.  

The clinic will be available from 1 to 4:30 p.m. each Wednesday at UI Health Care–Scott Boulevard, 3640 Middlebury Road, in Iowa City.

Andrea Weber, MD, MME, assistant director of the UI Addiction and Recovery Collaborative, says the goal of the clinic is to provide more access for those seeking to start medication treatments for substance use disorders.

“For people with substance use disorders, often times there’s a critical period where they’re ready to make a change or seek help,” Weber says. “This clinic might remove another barrier where people can come when they’re ready, and they don’t need to be in withdrawal or go to the emergency room to begin treatment.”

Weber says she, along with Benjamin Miskle, PharmD, a peer recovery specialist, and other medical learners will be at the Scott Boulevard location on Wednesdays to conduct evaluations, as well as prescribe a treatment regimen as needed. That might include buprenorphine for those with opioid use disorders and/or medications for nicotine and alcohol use disorders, such as naltrexone or acamprosate. 

Patients also will be welcome to schedule follow-up visits at the Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) Clinic at either the main hospital campus in Iowa City or Iowa River Landing in Coralville.

For more information, call or text (319) 359-9072 or email uiarc@healthcare.uiowa.edu