First Nation in Ontario has no space for alcohol-drug detox centre, so dozens being helped at a hotel

Community support worker Kyle Arnold says detoxing from drugs is one of the hardest things he's ever done, but seeing dozens of members of Long Lake #58 First Nation going through withdrawal together in a safe space "is absolutely beautiful."

Long Lake #58 is an Ojibway community about 300 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, Ont. On Friday, 42 of its members arrived at the NorWester Hotel and Conference Centre — which is partially owned by the First Nation — to participate in a 10-day detox program.

The community has booked more than 50 hotel rooms, where participants receive on-site medical and social support and hourly room checks, as they go through withdrawal from alcohol or drugs and prepare for a full treatment program. 

"Generally when people go into a detox … it's with strangers. This, they're here with family members, with community members, with people they grew up with," said Arnold, a longtime advocate.

"It creates a sense of trust right off the bat where they can be vulnerable and they can open up."

Fewer than 600 people live in Long Lake #58, with the majority of members living in Thunder Bay or Winnipeg.

The First Nation does not have a dedicated detox centre in the community and the only such facility in the northwestern Ontario city has just 25 beds.

This isn't the first time the First Nation has brought people to the hotel to help them.

Noreen Agnew, the First Nation's band representative manager, said the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns shone a light on how many people were struggling with alcoholism and addiction.

"People started talking about how they were tired of living that life. They were tired of just struggling with addictions and trauma, so we developed a program that would help our community," Agnew said.

That program — the Better Together Wellness Strategy — aims to encourage collective healing through sharing circles and other cultural programming.

"They're doing it together, right? They're able to be stronger, support each other and connect with each other," said Agnew.

The Thunder Bay district — which includes Long Lake #58 — has the highest opioid-related death rate in the province, according to Ontario's Office of the Chief Coroner.

Detoxification clears the body of harmful substances and is typically one of the first steps in addiction treatment. During the process, the mind and body go through several changes while adjusting to the lack of substance use. This can result in withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, nausea, feeling restless or agitated and intense cravings, while putting people at risk of seizures or heart failure.