New Gordon Square clinic reduces barriers to addiction treatment

by Candice Wilder, Signal Cleveland

Cleveland residents who are seeking help with addiction now have another option to get the care they need. 

Health officials at The Centers, a federally qualified healthcare organization in Cleveland, launched Walk-in Medication Assisted Treatment (WinMAT) Monday, a clinic that provides immediate treatment and access to medications for people struggling with fentanyl, heroin, prescription pain relievers and other substances. 

The clinic is located at The Centers’ Gordon Square location, 5209 Detroit Ave., where a behavioral health urgent care program also provides immediate assistance for people in crisis. 

Eric Morse, CEO and president of The Centers, said the reason for combining WinMAT and behavioral health urgent care at this location was to offer a holistic approach to mental and behavioral health. 

“With the launch of WinMAT, we’re offering a lifeline to those caught in the grips of opioid use disorder,” Morse said. “Our clinic is not just about treatment; it’s about providing hope and support immediately, when it’s most needed.” 

Immediate treatment for addiction

The clinic will also help eliminate barriers for people in need of immediate treatment for their addiction. Long wait times, financial costs or pretreatment requirements are common obstacles for people struggling with addiction, said Dr. Elena Yanchar, chief of Psychiatry at The Centers. 

When patients walk into The Centers’ WinMAT clinic, they will have the opportunity to meet with a doctor to get an immediate evaluation and treatment plan. The clinic will provide a range of medications for opioid use disorders, such as Suboxone, Sublocade and Vivitro, at the health center’s pharmacies. The clinic will also accept people seeking help, regardless of their current usage status, insurance coverage or ability to pay.

Yanchar said the goal of WinMaT is to create a compassionate, stigma-free environment where individuals can feel safe and get the support they need to begin their journey toward recovery. 

She said the clinic’s walk-in model addresses how access to care should be immediate and unconditional, which reflects the challenges faced by individuals with opioid use disorders. 

“We’re here when you’re ready,” Yanchar said. “Our doors are open to everyone in need, offering not just treatment, but hope and a path forward.”