Photo: Kristen Holliday
Sheila Malcolmson, provincial minister of mental health and addictions, is announcing more addiction treatment and recovery supports for the Interior Health region on Wednesday.
The provincial government announced it will add more addiction treatment and recovery supports to outback communities, including beds in Kamloops and Kelowna.
Speaking at the A New Tomorrow Treatment Solutions facility in Kamloops on Wednesday, Mental Health and Addictions Minister Sheila Malcolmson said a total of 35 beds will be funded in Kamloops, Kelowna, Lillooet and Williams Lake.
Malcolmson said 20 beds will be for treatment, while 15 will be for stabilization.
“Working with our partners, our government will continue to build that continuous and comprehensive continuum of mental health and substance use care that people deserve,” Malcolmson said.
“It’s an incredibly brave act for people to recognize that help is needed and come forward and ask. And there’s so much more to be done. However, we’re working hard and investing in the services people need and the communities that support them need”.
According to the province, A New Tomorrow Treatment Solutions in Kamloops will receive 13 substance use treatment beds (seven for adult men and six for adult women) and seven beds that will help people stabilize and transition to receive active attention. The facility will open in the fall and will include suites specially designed for the needs of single mothers with young children.
Kelowna will get seven adult women’s treatment beds and two adult women’s stabilization beds, which will open at Bridge Youth and Family Services. These beds will open at the end of September.
According to the province, the Lillooet Friendship Society is currently accepting applications for its five new stabilization beds.
Williams Lake will receive a new withdrawal management bed at AXIS-Renner House.
“These new beds will join the supports we’ve previously announced for the Interior Health region, including 17 new positions announced this March to support various mental health and substance use programs,” Malcolmson said.
Depending on the province, treatment beds offer intensive, live-in substance use treatment for 30 to 90 days. Bedridden people can access medical services, counselling, psychosocial education and life skills training.
Stabilization beds are available for people with complex substance use problems who need support after withdrawal management.
Diane Shendruk, vice president of clinical operations at Interior Health North, said substance use and addictions should be understood as existing on a spectrum, and treatments should meet each person’s unique needs.
“It’s important that we have this range of services because everyone’s journey to recovery is different and needs different supports,” Shendruk said.
In addition to treatment and stabilization beds, Malcolmson said there are new outpatient withdrawal management teams to help people in Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon.
A new virtual medicine service for addictions will also help people across Interior Health access support.
“These services build the continuum of care throughout,” Malcolmson said.
He said plans are also underway to bring complex care housing to Kamloops and Kelowna.
While Interior Health has faced ongoing staffing challenges, Shendruk said community mental health and substance use teams have not been affected in the same way.
“Almost every new position is filled,” Shendruk said.
“There is a great passion for this work and a dedicated group.”
Dr. Mandy Manak of A New Tomorrow Treatment Solutions said opening the Kamloops treatment facility has been a dream for years.
He said untreated addiction ravages communities and the new beds will help support those struggling with substance use.
“It’s hope for those people who are looking for recovery so they can live their lives to the fullest. It’s hope not only for the people of Kamloops, but also for those who live in the Interior Health region,” said Manak .
Malcolmson said this was not the last announcement expected from the ministry.
“Now we’re at a point of really building that system of care and filling in the gaps in the system where people slip through the cracks. Things that people with lived experience, health care workers and people on the front lines of the public. health emergency in particular, the toxic drug crisis in particular, the gaps they have identified.”