Draft - Ribbon Cutting to Celebrate C.A.R.S. Mobile Medication Unit

Please join the Tompkins Chamber, Tompkins County, City of Ithaca, and NYS Assembly officials for a ribbon cutting to celebrate Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services' new Mobile Medication Unit.

Remarks by:
Jennifer Tavares, President & CEO, Tompkins Chamber
Anna Kelles, Assemblymember, NYS Assembly
Shawna Black, Chair, Tompkins County Legislature
Laura Lewis, Mayor, City of Ithaca
Jessica Janssen, CEO, C.A.R.S.

About C.A.R.S.:
Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services transforms lives and the community with flexible and inclusive person-centered treatment.

• C.A.R.S., due to having a successful Opioid Treatment Program in Ithaca since 2020, applied for and was awarded 1 of 8 initial NYS-OASAS (Office of Addiction Services and Supports) grants to begin Mobile Methadone Unit (MMU) services in New York State.
• C.A.R.S. Mobile Medication Unit (MMU) is a 34' mobile unit that will provide NYS-OASAS-regulated Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) services in the City of Norwich in Chenango County six days per week (Mondays through Saturdays).
• MMU services will feature medication assisted treatment (MAT) including methadone services, substance use disorder (SUD) counseling services, SUD peer services, and case management.
• Aside from C.A.R.S. upcoming MMU, methadone services have not been available in Chenango County, and Norwich residents have had to travel to OTP services in Binghamton (a 60-minute drive each way), or farther, to access methadone treatment. C.A.R.S. MMU will provide critical, convenient methadone services for Norwich and Chenango County residents.
• Individuals beginning treatment will have access to the required, on-site methadone dosing 6 days per week, without having to make a lengthy trip out of town to receive these services.