B.C. government commits to funding 40 substance-use treatment beds on Vancouver Island
CTV
People on Vancouver Island have new support accessing substance-use treatment beds to help their recovery – and the province says it’s working on adding more.
People on Vancouver Island have new support accessing substance-use treatment beds to help their recovery – and the province says it’s working on adding more.
“We are in the depths of a real crisis in our province,” says B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside.
She’s announced the province is committing $8 million in annual funding for 40 substance-use treatment beds on the South and Mid-Island.
They are 15 publicly funded beds at Cedars Recovery in Cobble Hill, 10 at Edgewood Treatment Centre in Nanaimo, five at Homewood Ravensview in North Saanich; and 10 Indigenous-focused beds at Kackaamin Family Development Centre in Port Alberni.
“There are many pathways to addiction and we need there to be many pathways out,” says Whiteside.
Island Health says the beds will provide care closer to home with longer stays and intensive treatment. People can sign up by contacting the health authority’s mental health and substance use service line at 1-888-885-8824.
“It is a much needed enhancement to Island Health’s continuum of services and supports for people with substance use,” says Island Health’s Dana Leik.
