Thank you to the Association for Multidisciplinary Education and Research in Substance use and Addiction (AMERSA) for highlighting MATTERS as a way to increase connection to long-term care!
Click the button below to visit AMERSA’s website or scroll down to listen to the podcast episode.
The MATTERS program was created in 2016 by emergency medicine physician Dr. Joshua Lynch to improve the way people with substance use disorder are connected to treatment. It began as a Buffalo-based referral network but has since expanded to distribute free harm reduction supplies and provide rapid evaluations for substance use disorder through telemedicine.
In this podcast episode, members of the MATTERS team speak with Dr. Elizabeth Abbs about reducing barriers to long-term treatment for substance use disorders. During the podcast, Outreach Manager Phil McNamara states, “MATTERS adds a human element to a technology-based [referral] program. We can’t lose sight of [the fact] that through that process is a person- a person [who may] face stigma based barriers, under-utilization of services, [and] other challenges outside of linkage to care. We have to be sure the process works for them.”
How Does This Work?
MATTERS facilitates rapid referrals to outpatient medication for addiction treatment (MAT) with its online platform. This system automatically connects people to various wraparound services, such as medication vouchers to cover the cost of a buprenorphine prescription, a free round-trip ride for their first follow-up appointment, and linkage to peer support. Additionally, members of the MATTERS team follow up with everyone referred through the program. Bella Wilklow, Support Services Coordinator at MATTERS, shared that, “We [follow up with referred individuals] to inform whether the system is working. [We’re] really driven by community feedback.”
Featured MATTERS Team Members
Phil McNamara, BA, CASAC-T
Outreach Manager
Phil McNamara has a background as an SUD Counselor specializing in MOUD at a Buffalo-based OTP, and as a Community Outreach Coordinator specializing in HCV Linkage and Harm Reduction.
Phil is the founder of Buffalo Resilience a nonprofit providing meals and harm reduction supplies & training to underserved communities in WNY. He believes that a strong community can offer many different paths to recovery and is passionate about building strong community connections.
Bella Wilklow, BA
Support Services Coordinator
Isabella Wilklow is the Support Services Coordinator at MATTERS, where she assists individuals seeking connection to treatment for opioid use disorder. Her work is rooted in advocacy & compassion.
