Since September 2023, Mobile Withdrawal Management Services (MWMS) has been quietly transforming the way withdrawal and recovery support is delivered—by meeting participants exactly where they are, both physically and in their recovery journey.

Designed to remove traditional barriers to care, MWMS provides voluntary, short-term withdrawal management and recovery support to individuals aged 18 and over for any substance. Participants are referred to the program through a variety of pathways, including primary care providers, nurse practitioners, the RAAM clinic, emergency departments and urgent care facilities. The MWMS team makes initial phone contact within 72 hours of referral, followed by an in-person visit within 3 days of completing the phone intake, ensuring timely and responsive support during a critical period. The program’s guiding principle is simple: meet participants where they are. There are no geographic boundaries on where the team will travel within Southern Health-Santé Sud and participants have full autonomy to choose their meeting location—whether that’s their home, their vehicle or even another community entirely. Since the program’s inception, the team has travelled to 53 communities across the Southern Health-Santé Sud region, with the furthest location being South Junction.

MWMS is delivered by a multidisciplinary team that includes a Health & Social Service Coordinator, Health & Social Service Worker, Recovery Health Nurses, Indigenous Community Support Worker, consulting Addictions Physicians and Peer Support Workers.

Together, they support a shared participant load of up to 16 individuals, working collaboratively to provide seamless care 365 days a year!

The team operates on weekends, statutory holidays and during peak times to ensure continuity of support when participants need it most. The core program runs for 30 days, during which participants receive daily phone check-ins and weekly in-person visits. For participants who choose to include peer support as part of their recovery, they can receive an additional 30 days with peer support following their time with MWMS. Throughout the program, the team follows the participant’s lead—supporting individualized goals that may include substance use reduction or complete abstinence.

Participation in MWMS is entirely voluntary. Participants remain in full control of their recovery goals and may leave the program at any time. There are no limits to the number of times any one individual can be referred, recognizing that recovery is not a linear process and that people may need support at different points in their lives.

Building trust and rapport is central to the team’s approach. With participant consent, families may also be involved, and the MWMS team can provide both peer and family support as part of the service. The team also offers psychoeducation to help participants connect with longer-term community resources, including counselling, medication management, as well as mental health and addictions supports.

When requested, MWMS works closely with primary care providers and community services to ensure continuity of care once the program ends. Future work will add additional supports to strengthen primary care capacity to deliver this follow‑up. Weekly team reviews ensure that all staff are aligned on participant needs and treatment planning, allowing any team member to step in at a moment’s notice to provide support.

By combining flexibility, compassion and clinical expertise, Mobile Withdrawal Management Services is helping redefine what accessible, client-centred recovery care can look like – one visit, one call and one relationship at a time.

Visit this link to learn more about Mobile Withdrawal Management Services and other Mental Health and Addictions supports available through Southern Health-Santé Sud.