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By Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions

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SOUND OFF: New treatment and recovery services coming to the Interior

Jul 27, 2022 | 10:09 AM

MANY PATHWAYS MIGHT LEAD A PERSON into addictions and substance use struggles.

That’s why (in addition to safe supply, prevention, and decriminalization), the Government of B.C. is opening new treatment and recovery beds throughout the province.

It takes a great amount of courage to realize that help is needed and to reach out. When people make the brave decision to ask for that help, we want them to be met with the quality services they deserve, no matter where they live.

As part of a historic investment into mental health and substance use services, our government is opening 35 new substance use beds to serve people in the Interior, including 20 treatment beds and 14 stabilization/transition beds.

The treatment beds provide live-in intensive treatment from 30 to 90 days and offer clinical support like counselling and life-skills training. The stabilization beds will provide a safe and structured environment for up to 30 days, for people to carry on what they learned in treatment and get connected to other vital services.

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Located in Kamloops, Kelowna, Lillooet, and Williams Lake, these beds will not only serve the people living in each community but the entire region. You can access these beds by calling 310-MHSU (6478) to connect with a local Interior Health Mental Health & Substance Use Centre or reach out to your existing care team.

By adding these new beds to the Interior region, we’re helping people get support, and we’re building a continuum of mental health and substance use care, where there wasn’t one five years ago.

On top of these 35 new adult beds, we’re investing in new withdrawal management and virtual addiction medicine services, to give people more options and help fill gaps across the region.

Investing and building new treatment and recovery services throughout the province is just one way the government is tackling toxic drug deaths. We are using all the tools in the toolbox to tackle the ongoing public health emergency, including expanding harm-reduction measures like prescribed safe supply, reducing the shame and stigma of substance use by leading the country to decriminalize people who use drugs, and building a comprehensive and seamless continuum of mental health and addictions care that British Columbians need.

We know there is more work to do, but our government has been adding new services almost every week. We will not stop working until every brave decision to seek help is met with a diversity of options that help people on their road to recovery.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.