Substance abusers experience many barriers to care access, retention and adherence when faced with chronic disease. Additionally, addiction is a disorder characterized by multiple relapses. Seamless case finding and timely services are essential in supporting a system that integrates medical care, mental health and substance abuse treatment.
In an effort to improve treatment access and outcomes while reducing the risk of chronic disease in the substance abusing population, APRA developed “Project Orion,” a 34-foot mobile medical outreach unit. With grant funding from the federal Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), APRA partnered with Unity Health Care, Inc., the DOH HIV/AIDS Administration (HAA) to provide targeted services to areas where hard-to-find addicts congregate. Project Orion provides education and counseling services for substance abuse, as well as intake for treatment through both long and short-term medical detoxification programs.
Project Orion -- DC Department of Health
825 North Capitol Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Chief: Kevin Shipman, Telephone: (202) 442-9216
Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 8 am - 6 pm
Select from the following links for additional information about Project Orion:
Project Orion addresses the needs of the following risk groups:
- Injection Drug Users (IDU) and their needle sharing partners
- IDUs and crack cocaine users who are pregnant or of childbearing age
- Sex industry workers
- Men who have sex with men (MSM)
- African Americans
- MSMs who are IDUs
Medical services provided by Project Orion include:
- Primary medical care
- Testing and counseling for HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
- Testing and counseling for Hepatitis B & C and
- Testing and counseling for Tuberculosis
Other social and substance abuse services provided include:
- Outreach
- Prevention & Education
- Counseling
- Intake for long and short-term substance abuse detoxification and treatment
- Case management
- Housing/shelter referrals
- Medicare/Medicaid referral
- Long term counseling
- Food assistance and
- Client tracking
Project Orion takes an active approach to case finding and service linkage through a unique blend of resources that includes strong, collaborative public/private partnerships. In addition, Project Orion is supported by knowledgeable, consistent and “street savvy” outreach staff who are respected by and integrated into the target communities.
