Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. opens 'first of its kind' addictions centre

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 29 Oct, 2021 04:08 PM
  • B.C. opens 'first of its kind' addictions centre

COQUITLAM, B.C. - The British Columbia government says a new addictions and mental health treatment facility in Coquitlam, B.C., could influence how the province develops care in the future.

Mental Health and Addictions Minister Sheila Malcolmson says the 105-bed Red Fish Healing Centre is the first of its kind and will allow patients to be treated for mental health and addictions together.

Malcolmson says having both issues treated at the same time wasn't previously possible at other B.C. treatment sites.

She adds that the centre has patients but is not yet at full capacity, with its success determining if the model will be expanded across the province.

Selina Robinson, the finance minister and representative for Coquitlam-Maillardville, says the treatment centre has been a long time in the making.

Robinson, who previously worked as a family therapist and addictions counsellor, says she's encouraged to see the advancement in treatment since the 1990s.

"To actually see it materialize into a culturally safe, therapeutic community that recognizes all aspects of a human ... is a really exciting turn and forward thinking and progressive way of doing this sort of work," she said at a news conference.

The centre replaces the Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addiction, which will be decommissioned in the future.

Malcolmson said the centre's opening highlights the lack of previous investment in mental health and addictions over the past 16 years.

"The centre is part of a broader system of care to serve British Columbians with the most complex mental health and substance use needs so that people can get the help they need."

The opening comes as the death toll surges because of toxic illicit drugs.

The latest data as of July from the BC Coroners Service reported it was the second-highest number of overdose deaths the province has recorded in a single month.

July marked the 17th consecutive month in which more than 100 residents in B.C. died from the toxic drug supply, the coroner said.

A public health emergency was declared in 2016 and since then the overdose death rate has almost doubled from 20.4 per 100,000 people to 39.7 per 100,000 in 2021.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

West Fraser to buy South Carolina OSB mill

West Fraser to buy South Carolina OSB mill
The company says the mill will give it the flexibility to better meet customer demand, particularly in the southeastern U.S. The mill, which began producing OSB in 2007, has been idle since late 2019.

West Fraser to buy South Carolina OSB mill

B.C. health workers hit vaccination deadline

B.C. health workers hit vaccination deadline
Premier John Horgan says he's hopeful that the small number of workers who are resistant to getting vaccinated will get the information they need to get their shots. Those who don't have their first dose of vaccine by the deadline can't work unless they have a recognized exemption.

B.C. health workers hit vaccination deadline

1,618 COVID19 cases over 3 days

1,618 COVID19 cases over 3 days
There are 4,966 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 195,055 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 366 individuals are in hospital and 149 are in intensive care. 

1,618 COVID19 cases over 3 days

VPD releases video of west-side kidnapping victim

VPD releases video of west-side kidnapping victim
Surveillance video seized by police captures Lee entering the Oakridge highrise around 10:15 p.m. on September 23, then leaving the next day shortly before 4 a.m. Investigators believe he was kidnapped while walking back to his parked car.

VPD releases video of west-side kidnapping victim

Drug-Impaired Driver Arrested After Driving Into Local Business

Drug-Impaired Driver Arrested After Driving Into Local Business
The driver of the vehicle ignored police direction and attempted to flee the scene. Officers deployed a Conducive Energy Weapon (CEW) and withdrew the man from the vehicle, where he continued to resist arrest and was taken to the ground. Officers arrested the man without further incident.

Drug-Impaired Driver Arrested After Driving Into Local Business

Task of crafting new cabinet hits final stretch

Task of crafting new cabinet hits final stretch
Conservatives are urging him to dump Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan from cabinet over what they describe as his mishandling of sexual misconduct allegations among the military's senior ranks.

Task of crafting new cabinet hits final stretch