1 New Substance Use Bed comes to Williams Lake

Courtesy of the Government of BC:

Editor's Note -- Williams Lake’s AXIS – Renner House will receive one new withdrawal-management bed in the facility

People living with substance-use challenges in B.C.'s Interior will have access to more treatment and recovery supports as the Province continues to invest in new services.

In partnership with Interior Health, the Province is expanding addictions care services by adding 35 new beds, including 20 treatment beds, 14 transition and stabilization beds, and one new withdrawal-management bed. These beds will provide safe places where people can connect to life-saving services and supports.

“By creating new treatment and recovery spaces, we’re connecting more people to the life-saving resources they need throughout the Interior,” said the Hon. Sheila Malcolmson, BC's Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “We’re tackling the toxic drug crisis from all sides with unprecedented investments in mental-health and addictions supports across the spectrum of prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction.”

The new beds will supplement the virtual addiction medicine clinic and new outpatient withdrawal-management teams recently implemented in the region. The combination of new bed-based services, outpatient withdrawal-management and virtual addictions medicine means that people have easier access to substance-use care in a way that meets their needs.

“As we continue to develop our substance-use care continuum, the value of these new beds can’t be understated. Having a safe, welcoming place to call home at a pivotal period in an individual’s wellness journey can make a tremendous difference,” said Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health. “We are pleased to further expand access to treatment in facilities for those clients who have not met their goals with other less intensive forms of treatment.”

Enhancing B.C.’s substance-use system of care is an integral part of A Pathway to Hope, B.C.’s roadmap for building the comprehensive system of mental-health and addictions care that British Columbians deserve.

Learn More:

Learn about A Pathway to Hope, government’s vision for mental-health and addictions care in B.C.: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021MMHA0049-001787

Learn about A New Tomorrow Treatment Solutions: https://ournewtomorrow.ca/

Interior Health, overdose prevention and treatment: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/health-and-wellness/toxic-drug-crisis/overdose-prevention-and-treatment

A backgrounder follows.

Backgrounders

New treatment spaces in B.C.'s Interior

• A New Tomorrow Treatment Solutions in Kamloops will receive seven adult men’s treatment beds, six adult women’s treatment beds and seven adult stabilization/transition to active care beds.
• Spaces in Kelowna include seven adult women’s treatment beds and two adult women’s stabilization/transition beds at the Bridge Youth & Family Services, scheduled to open in late September.
• The Lillooet Friendship Centre society will have five new stabilization beds and is accepting applications.
• Williams Lake’s AXIS – Renner House will receive one new withdrawal-management bed in the facility.
• The Virtual Addiction Medicine Clinic operates at Kelowna Mental Health & Substance Use (MHSU) and provides virtual addiction medicine services to address addiction medicine gaps throughout the region.
• The new outpatient withdrawal-management teams are available in in Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon. This brand-new service will enable patients to receive care, including the prescribing of medications as required, in their own home.
• Treatment beds offer live-in intensive treatment that typically range from 30 to 90 days and offers clinical supports, such as assessment and counselling, as well as psycho-social education and life-skills training, and may include medical services.
• Transition and stabilization beds provide a safe transition space for people experiencing complex substance-use challenges who do not have a stable place and need vital support following withdrawal management.