WHEREAS detox centres play a critical role in assisting individuals to successfully eliminate addiction and substance abuse; AND WHEREAS there is a shortage of detox centres in the province, which makes it difficult for many individuals to easily access the existing ones and receive the help they need in order to treat their substance and addiction problems: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities lobby the provincial government in order to provide more funding to open detox centres in more areas of the province where they are needed and where accessing existing ones would be difficult for individuals needing the service.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH The Ministry of Healths goal is to provide a range of services within our communities that best meet the varying needs of our clients. There are a range of models for withdrawal management. Medical detox offers services for higher-need clients who require 247 medical supervision, and social detox supports clients who do not require medical monitoring but need supervision and support as they go through withdrawal. Some communities offer daytox, an innovative out-patient withdrawal program for clients whose substance abuse does not require residential detox. Services include medical monitoring and management services, individual and group counseling, psycho-educational groups, and alternate therapies. All of the Health Authorities are committed to the effective treatment of those suffering from mental health and addiction issues. Interior Health, specifically has already committed resources to respond to the need for withdrawal management services in the Williams Lake area. Their Mental Health and Addictions Services is in the process of putting social detox services in place through the Gateway program. Health authorities provide a broad range of withdrawal management, residential addictions treatment and support recovery services. Since 2003, addictions treatment bed capacity in the Province of British Columbia has more than doubled - from 874 to 2102 beds.