British Columbians struggling with substance-use will soon have more treatment and recovery options.
The province is investing $13 million in more than 100 recovery beds for 14 organizations across B.C., including Port Alberni and Nanaimo.
“To help people get the addictions care they need, we’re providing more publicly funded treatment and recovery beds,” said Sheila Malcolmson, minister of mental health and addictions. “There’s more to do, but we are working hard to build up a strong system of addictions and mental health care.”
Forty-six of the beds will be new spaces in organizations that offer treatment and recovery. The rest of the beds are existing ones that will be converted from privately-funded to fully funded public beds instead.
Edgewood Treatment Centre in Nanaimo will get five beds and the region’s John Howard Society is set to receive 15.
Six beds will go to the Port Alberni Shelter Society, serving the west coast of Vancouver Island.
“The social isolation felt by so many over this past year has had a disastrous impact on those suffering with substance-use challenges in our province,” said Joel Hughes, clinical director of Edgewood Treatment Centre. “This increase in beds will provide the necessary treatment for so many at a very crucial time and will most definitely save lives and help put families back together.”
In a press release, the province said the additional beds will increase access to addictions treatment in every health authority and address service gaps for women, Indigenous peoples, people transitioning from corrections, and remote communities.
Jasmine Bala
