Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 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

Canada leads G20 in financing fossil fuels: report

Canada leads G20 in financing fossil fuels: report
The report, which includes 2019 and 2020, adds up loans, loan guarantees, grants, share purchases and insurance coverage provided to fossil fuel producers by governments, government agencies and government-owned multinational development banks.

Canada leads G20 in financing fossil fuels: report

Study finds gaps in vendors' child labour policies

Study finds gaps in vendors' child labour policies
The report recommends several ways the government can work with suppliers to avoid complicity in human trafficking, forced labour and child labour, such as favouring companies with a clear understanding of the problems and appropriate policies to address them.

Study finds gaps in vendors' child labour policies

Vaccines, climate top Trudeau's agenda in Europe

Vaccines, climate top Trudeau's agenda in Europe
The study by Clean Prosperity published today could give some heft to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's credentials as he heads to planned climate discussions at the upcoming G20 summit and United Nations COP 26 meeting.

Vaccines, climate top Trudeau's agenda in Europe

To boost biotech, fund best bets: Moderna founder

To boost biotech, fund best bets: Moderna founder
Derrick Rossi says Canadian politicians have a track record of trying to be equitable with their funding pledges to hit every region of the country. There is a political calculation behind that, he suggests, but setting the country up for long-run growth — especially in biotech — will require putting money behind the best bets and regions for growth of new firms.    

To boost biotech, fund best bets: Moderna founder

Pope's visit 'deeply meaningful': First Nation

Pope's visit 'deeply meaningful': First Nation
The First Nation also urges the church to "demonstrate acts of contrition" and fulfil promises to disclose residential school documents and raise funds for survivors and their families.

Pope's visit 'deeply meaningful': First Nation

Premier's office fostered toxic workplace: lawsuit

Premier's office fostered toxic workplace: lawsuit
A former senior political staffer in the Alberta government alleges in a lawsuit that the premier’s office fostered a “poisoned work environment” and repeatedly failed to address her complaint of sexual harassment about another employee.

Premier's office fostered toxic workplace: lawsuit