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April 06, 2016 - 12:32 PM
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - By this time next year, the Interior Health Authority expects to distribute 73 additional beds to support those with substance abuse issues.
The new beds are part of the province’s 500 Substance Use Spaces Initiative.
“The beds will provide a safe and supportive environment for clients and are part of the province’s commitment to add 500 additional substance use spaces throughout British Columbia by 2017,” Health Minister Terry Lake says in a release.
Fifty seven of the 73 beds will be designated for support recovery to give clients a substance-free setting while they wait or return from treatment. The remaining 16 beds will be for adult and youth clients who are in the early stages of withdrawal and detox.
Interior Health expects the contract to make the beds will be awarded by the summer and completion by spring 2017.
While the exact locations to receive the beds are still being determined, a general breakdown by area has been decided.
-Thompson Cariboo: 12 support recovery beds and four adult detox beds
-Central Okanagan: Nine support recovery beds and four youth detox beds
-South Okanagan: 10 support recovery beds
-North Okanagan: Six support recovery beds
-Kootenay Boundary: Eight support recovery beds and eight adult detox beds
-East Kootenay: Eight support recovery beds
-Interior Health Wide: Four support recovery beds provided by an Aboriginal organization
“We’re in the process of building a system to further support mental health and substance use healthcare teams across Interior Health,” Mental Health and Substance Use Executive Director David Harrhy says. “We currently have 121 substance use treatment beds and the addition of these 73 news beds will allow us to better provide integrated specialized care planning and services in collaboration with clients and their families who have complex substance use issues."
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