Low-barrier medication-assisted treatment (MAT) will be offered alongside existing services for medical sobering, housing navigation, and behavioral health counseling.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Feb. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Ideal Option, a national leader in evidence-based outpatient medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for addiction to fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, alcohol and polysubstance, is now welcoming new patients at 5400 Gibson Blvd SE, Suite 11. The new low-barrier clinic is located inside the Gateway Center, a facility owned by the City of Albuquerque.
Formerly a hospital, the Gateway Center was acquired by the City in April of 2021 and is now a 572,000-square-foot facility that hosts tenant organizations providing medical, behavioral health, and social services.
“Our goal at the Gateway Center is to provide wraparound community services and support to individuals experiencing homelessness, all under one roof,” said Gilbert Ramirez, Health, Housing, and Homelessness Director for the Gateway Center. “We welcome Ideal Option’s services as substance use can impact anyone, and lowering barriers to care is a vital step in providing accessible and compassionate support for all individuals receiving care at the Gateway Center.”
According to the 2024 edition of the Opioid Guide, published by the New Mexico Department of Justice, an estimated 3.9 percent of the New Mexico population (approximately 82,840 people) currently suffers from opioid use disorders (OUD). In addition, more than 2,100 deaths were attributable to prescription opioids in New Mexico between 2017 and 2021.
“Low-barrier MAT really rounds out the services inside the Gateway Center,” said Katrina Fuller, peer outreach specialist for Albuquerque. “Being under the same roof as medical sobering, inpatient treatment, counseling, housing navigation, and a shelter is an incredibly rare opportunity. I can’t wait to see the positive impact this is going to have on the health of our city.”
In a recent survey conducted by Ideal Option to over 850 patients, 95% reported having no drug-related arrests or charges since starting treatment. In addition, 91% of patients reported having no emergency room visits for drug-related medical care since starting treatment, and 97% reported being confident in their ability to remain engaged in long-term recovery.
The new clinic in the Gateway Center is Ideal Option’s third location in Albuquerque and will offer medications such as Suboxone®, Sublocade®, Brixadi®, and Vivitrol® among others.
The outpatient clinic welcomes walk-ins and is open for new and returning patients Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. at 5400 Gibson Blvd SE, Suite 11, inside the Gateway Center.
Most forms of insurance are accepted, including Medicare and Medicaid. Patients can make an appointment by calling 1.877.522.1275 or visiting http://www.idealoption.com/.
About the Gateway Network
The Gateway Network is comprised of services designed to meet the unique individual needs of the City’s unhoused community. This includes Gateway West, our City’s largest shelter which can serve up to 700 individuals. The Gateway Network also includes Gateway Recovery, a micro-community of Pallet Homes for those with substance-use disorder; Gateway Family, where families can get on the pathway to housing; and Gateway Young Adult, once opened, this service will provide pathways to housing.
The Gateway Center is also a key component of this network. The 572,000-square-foot facility is home to essential services, including the Housing Navigation Center, which offers wrap-around services through the Engagement Center; the Medical Respite Center, a medically supervised space for individuals to recover from illness or injury; the Medical Sobering Center, medically supervised treatment to gain sobriety; and the First Responder Receiving area, which provides overnight shelter and connection to services.
Each element of the Gateway Network prioritizes pathways to housing and wrap-around services to overcome barriers.
Read more about the Gateway Network here.
About Ideal Option
Headquartered in Kennewick, Washington, Ideal Option was founded in 2012 and has since helped more than 88,000 patients through a network of 80+ office-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) clinics across 9 states. With a mission to serve under-served communities, Ideal Option accepts most forms of insurance including Medicaid and Medicare. Financial assistance and payment plans are also available.
Ideal Option’s team of medical providers carry certifications in Addiction and Emergency Medicine, Internal, and Family Medicine, among other specialties. The company also employs social workers, caseworkers, counselors, and mental health practitioners. This holistic approach helps drive positive outcomes, including family stability, stable housing, improved overall health, and reduced rates of recidivism.
In all the communities it serves, Ideal Option collaborates with existing stakeholders and providers to improve the continuum of care. This approach includes partnerships with emergency rooms and county jail systems, where individuals with substance use disorder often appear, as well as collaborating with numerous support agencies and municipal programs addressing social needs such as housing, mental health, and nutrition support.
Media Contact
Olivia Roe, Ideal Option, 1 9199466644, [email protected], www.idealoption.com
SOURCE Ideal Option
