title: Evaluation of an inpatient medical withdrawal program in rural Ontario: a 1-year prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We present a 1-year program evaluation of the Medical Withdrawal Support Service (MWSS) provided at the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre. The centre's service area includes 4 rural municipalities and 28 First Nations communities. The program involves inpatient detoxification for opioid dependence with the use of buprenorphine-naloxone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from preadmission interviews (i.e., medical history, substance use history, previous counselling, social history, previous addiction treatment and screening tools used during the interview); discharge forms (i.e., length of stay, maximum dose of prescribed buprenorphine-naloxone and client goals); and postdischarge interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 81% of the clients successfully completed the program. Two weeks after discharge, 48% of clients reported continued abstinence. At 3-month follow-up, 32% were abstinent, and at 6 months, 30% were abstinent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MWSS shows positive outcomes for many clients, their families and communities. Clients returned to work and school, became more engaged in healthy meal preparation and exercise, spent more time with family and were more involved as leaders in their communities.
authors.affiliation: School of Occupational Therapy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.
authors.forename: Niki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kiepek
authors.affiliation: Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre, Sioux Lookout, Ont.
authors.forename: Bobbi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Groom
authors.affiliation: Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre, Sioux Lookout, Ont.
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Toppozini
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont.
authors.forename: Kara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kakekagumick
authors.affiliation: Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Thunder Bay, Ont.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muileboom
authors.affiliation: Anishinaabe Bimaadiziwin Research Program, Sioux Lookout, Ont.
authors.forename: Len
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000069479:Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000069479:Buprenorphine, Naloxone Drug Combination