BY MATT MACKINDER
Clarkston News Editor

As the president of the Recovery Mobile Clinic, Jordana Latozas says “it is always a good day to save a life.”
The entity she serves is a mobile addiction, healthcare and COVID-19 vaccine clinic serving Clarkston and the surrounding areas, hoping to expand exposure and awareness of the service for mental health, addiction, and other post-pandemic concerns.
In Clarkston, the clinic visits Calvary Lutheran Church to offer addiction services, COVID-19 vaccines and COVID-19 testing.
“The primary goal of the clinic is to make treatment for opiate and alcohol addiction accessible,” Latozas (pictured) said. “We want to support those going through detox and treatment so they know they have a safe place to go and have access to the treatment they need to maintain their goals of opiate and alcohol free lifestyles.”
Established in February of 2020, Latozas and her staff of four began seeing patients last August.
“I founded the Recovery Mobile Clinic after working in the field of addiction medicine for six years, and seeing holes in the system,” Latozas said. “Transportation is a challenge in our area, due to no mass transit programs. Patients who do not have a driver’s license, or who do not have a car, are relying on systems such as Uber and Lyft to get to doctor’s appointments, or friends and family to take them. We would lose about 30 percent of patients to relapse because they did not have a ride to get to the office.
“This is sad. We have to do better.”
Latozas said taking the clinic mobile and taking help to churches, shelters, three-quarter houses, parole offices, and areas where patients are enables a better chance for them to receive treatment and maintain their sobriety.
Also on staff is Latozas’ husband, Jeremy Latozas, who serves as treasurer, IT, COO, RV maintenance, and care director. Together, they have partnered with several local entities to bring more awareness to addiction and mental health.
“We can assist in being the solution to patients who are suffering from an increase in alcohol use or a relapse on alcohol or opiates as a result of the pandemic,” Latozas said. “We are also a mobile medical clinic, and we offer support. We will provide referrals if indicated and we collect a large amount of community resources. We also provide Narcan education and basic medical care.”
The pandemic, like with many businesses, affected normal operations, but all is getting back on track now, according to Latozas.
“COVID-19 created challenges to us all,” said Latozas. “It decreased access to counselors, doctors, rehabs, inpatient centers, even AA and NA groups. In one swoop, all the support that people suffering from addiction had spent so much time building up, was gone. They had no jobs, no transportation, no distractions. Add to that increased stress and anxiety and we have a recipe for disaster.”
Latozas noted recent trends in statistics that showed how stressful COVID-19 has been and how many individuals have dealt with the pandemic.
The numbers are eye-opening.
“During 2020-21 with COVID, we saw a 30 percent increase in opiate overdoses, a 300 percent increase in online alcohol sales, an 11 percent increase in divorces, a 13 percent increase in home foreclosures, a 70 percent increase in depression medications, and a significant increase in teen and adult suicide rates,” Latozas said.
“In one year, we have undone all the addiction and overdose progress we made in the U.S. in the last five years.”
For more information on the Recovery Mobile Clinic, visit their website at RecoveryMobileClinic.com or call 248-567-2334.