IN THE NEWS| REHABILITATION - Western News 10.16.2005 “Vancouver opens ten new youth detox beds | VANCOUVER (CP) _ As the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority rolled out expanded detox services for teen drug and alcohol abusers Thursday, a politician, a health official and a mother gathered at a press conference to herald the new funding.
But the mother who was invited to applaud the government's effort conceded later that she herself has been left with little choice but to spend thousands of dollars on private care for her son, who's battling a five-year addiction to crystal meth.
``What we really need is detox on demand," said Pat Johnson, a Vancouver resident who has joined forces with the groups Grief to Action and Parents Together.
A service shortage has meant that Johnson's son has been left on numerous waiting lists, the longest wait being about three weeks for a detox bed.
So it was not a surprise when Johnson tempered her enthusiasm for the government's announcement of 10 new treatment beds, bringing the total number of beds to 27 in the Vancouver, Richmond and North Shore communities.
The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority also announced Thursday the launch of D-Talks, a centralized, 24-hour phone line that will link youth with detox services assisting in supervised withdrawals.
In the pilot month of September, the phone line received 294 calls from 86 youths, resulting in 60 of the teens being booked into detox. Lorne Mayencourt, Vancouver-Burrard MLA, called the initiatives a "significant step forward.
"When people need help with addiction, the shouldn't have to go from window to window," he said.
``It's another step in the journey," added Ida Goodreau, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority president and CEO.
``We know we need to do more, but this is an important step."
The new residential facility beds mean there are now 910 across the province for drug and alcohol abusers, of which 85 are for youths.
|
December 15, 2007
|
ABOUT US
