Those struggling with addiction who seek treatment and recovery options will have access to 40 additional publically funded beds throughout Vancouver Island.
These recovery beds will not cost those who need them a thing as they are paid for by an $8 million commitment from the Province annually.
The beds are located from the south island regions to mid-island and they will be operated and overseen by Island Health.
There are:
- 15 beds at Cedars Recovery in Cobble Hill
- 10 beds at Edgewood Treatment Centre in Nanaimo
- Five beds at Homewood Ravensview in North Saanich
- 10 Indigenous-focused beds at Kackaamin Family Development Centre in Port Alberni
“When people make the courageous decision to call for help, they need to be met with quality care close to their home,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
“We are expanding access to substance-use treatment beds on Vancouver Island so that people will have options closer to home and get treatment while staying connected to their family and community.”
Related:
- ‘Eliminating financial barriers’: BC community organizations can apply for anti-racism funding
- New ‘safe homes’ for women and children experiencing domestic violence opens in Victoria
The Province hopes that these 40 beds will help around 200 people annually with each patient taking between 50 to 90 days in their recovery journey.
Following their in-person treatment and occupation of one of these beds, they will be encouraged to take part in a nine-to-12-month virtual after-care program for continued support.
“People are continuing to lose their lives to toxic drugs and our government is acting by investing in services for the people who need them,” said Rob Fleming, MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake.
“More treatment beds will mean that more people can access the support they need to heal and stabilize their lives in their community.”
Leah says that these are the first publicly funded treatment services of this kind on Vancouver Island.
Prior to these beds opening up, people looking for publicly funded recovery options would have to look to the Lower Mainland as the closest option.
