Regional Detox Facilities

Year
2006
Number
B8
Sponsor(s)
Quesnel

WHEREAS community detoxification facilities available at northern interior hospitals are inadequate for community needs and RCMP staff are not suited as a resource to address the needs of substance addicted persons; AND WHEREAS the City of Quesnel has specifically doubled the RCMP drug enforcement section in its efforts to combat drug addiction problems associated with drug trafficking, which should decrease the availability of drugs in the area: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province and the regional health authorities provide province-wide detox facilities that guarantee a minimum number of beds available for the treatment of substance addicted persons who can be treated and adequately cared for in their communities.

Provincial Response

Ministry of Health Health authorities provide a broad range of comprehensive services for youth and adults with substance use addictions. These services include: -early intervention and outreach -withdrawal management detox -outpatient counseling -intensive day treatment -family support programs -case management -residential treatment -support recovery and after-care services. Beds for addictions treatment services in the Province of British Columbia Province have increased to 1,038 beds from 874 in 2003. These include withdrawal management or detox facilities in all five regions of the Province, with a total of 206 detox beds. This includes 20 beds in the Northern region, 28 beds in the Interior region, 35 beds in the Fraser region, 51 beds on Vancouver Island, and 72 beds in the Vancouver Coastal region. In Quesnel, GR Baker Hospital provides detox services as does the Quesnel Unit for Emergency Short Stay Mental Health Program QUEST. Furthermore, all health authorities are piloting daytox and home detox services to better meet the needs for withdrawal management in local communities.

Convention Decision
Endorsed as Amended