Close X
Wednesday, November 20, 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

More restrictions lifting as COVID infections slow

More restrictions lifting as COVID infections slow
Dr. David Williams said daily COVID-19 rates, hospital and intensive care admissions appeared to be trending downward, and some hospitals now had capacity to resume cancelled procedures.

More restrictions lifting as COVID infections slow

U.S. border agency says COVID vax not essential

U.S. border agency says COVID vax not essential
Canadians attempting to drive across the American border solely for a COVID-19 vaccination, even with a doctor's referral, would be denied entry, the U.S. border agency said on Wednesday. Unlike the Canadian government, Customs and Border Protection said it does not consider a vaccine essential for entry purposes.

U.S. border agency says COVID vax not essential

NDP plan to slash student debt would cost $4B: PBO

NDP plan to slash student debt would cost $4B: PBO
The New Democrats' campaign-style pledge this spring promised to cancel up to $20,000 in tuition, freeze loan payments through July 2022 and scrap interest payments, among other measures.

NDP plan to slash student debt would cost $4B: PBO

Parks Canada adapts to COVID-19 as camping starts

Parks Canada adapts to COVID-19 as camping starts
Parks have brought in some of their own measures as well to try to keep campers safe while enjoying the outdoors. "There will be, in different parks, different kinds of services," Wilkinson said.

Parks Canada adapts to COVID-19 as camping starts

$50M fund to support B.C. anchor attractions

$50M fund to support B.C. anchor attractions
Premier John Horgan and Tourism Minister Melanie Mark said they believe the $50-million BC Major Anchor Attractions Program is enough to prevent any of those not-for-profits and businesses on the edge from going under.

$50M fund to support B.C. anchor attractions

B.C. Mounties say homicide victims were brothers

B.C. Mounties say homicide victims were brothers
The RCMP say they are releasing the names of 29-year-old Erick Fryer and 31-year-old Carlos Fryer in an effort to help their investigation. They say the bodies of the two men from Kamloops, B.C., were found by a couple walking in a remote area around Naramata Creek north of Penticton.

B.C. Mounties say homicide victims were brothers