People dealing with addiction challenges in the Campbell River area will soon have access to local detox services to help them recover.
Island Health says they have secured a location for a six-bed medical detox at 731 Nicholls Rd., near the North Island Hospital – Campbell River campus. The service is expected to open in fall 2024 and will be the first Island Health community-based medical detox north of Nanaimo.
Key features will include:
- 24/7 staff 365 days a year
- Physician and nursing oversight and care
- Scheduled and planned admissions based on clinical assessment
- Short stays averaging three to 10 days followed by transitions and co-ordinated transfers to other supports
- Transport to and from the centre if needed
The province says the new facility is important to its Road to Recovery initiative. They say it will “provide a seamless continuum of addiction care, such as withdrawal management, bed-based and outpatient treatment services and aftercare.”
Island Health board chair Leah Hollins says medically supported detox is often the first step in a recovery journey, and the lack of a medical detox centre in Campbell River has been recognized for a while.
Meanwhile, North Island medical health officer Dr. Charmaine Enns says the impacts of the drug crisis are devastating in the area.
“The ongoing substance-use crisis is having a devastating impact on people affected by substance use, their families and loved ones, and the broader community, including Campbell River,” said Dr. Enns.
“A locally available detox is a crucial part of a broader substance-use continuum of services aimed at keeping people alive and engaging them in further treatments and supports.”
The new centre will be based on the Clearview Detox Centre which has been open in Nanaimo since 2009.
