The province is contributing $4.39 million to New Roads Therapeutic Recovery Centre for men struggling with addiction and repeated incarceration, and could soon decide whether to fund a similar centre for women.
The province said the money will support an estimated 330 men in the recovery program over the next three years.
B.C. Premier David Eby toured the View Royal facility, run by the non-profit organization Our Place Society, on Tuesday and talked to the board of directors about the centre’s “inspiring” growth over five years.
“This used to be a youth detention centre, a place where people came … who were at the end of the road, who needed a sense of hope and help, and you’ve turned it into this beautiful place where people gather and recover,” said Eby.
The voluntary program is aimed at men 19 and older with moderate to severe substance use and a history of homelessness and repeated interactions with the criminal justice system.
Participants, who spend anywhere from nine months up to 24 months in the program, need to be mentally stable and able to participate in group therapy and education sessions
As part of the program, individuals can take their Grade 12 equivalency, gain work experience, take part in therapy, learn how to take responsibility for their own health, plan how to maintain their sobriety and learn to reintegrate back into society.
There is on-site nursing and physician care, counselling, Indigenous healing methods and programs.
The facility offers a peer-supported community for up to 47 residents at a time.
Eby pointed to the high rate of men — many of whom work in the trades — who fatally overdose because they are more inclined to use alone and less likely to reach out for help. When these men reach out for help, he said, they need to be able to access services.
“We know we have a lot of work to do as a province to continue to build up that network of treatment and support for people across the province struggling with addiction, but today is a celebration of the important work that is happening here at New Roads,” said Eby.
Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside acknowledged on Tuesday that there are gaps in care for women and said the province is working with Island Health and New Roads to expand services for women
There are two types of funding applications before the province, one larger request for a separate therapeutic community, similar to New Roads, on the Island for women, and some smaller contracts between the province and the Canadian Mental Health Association for treatment beds for women provided by organizations like Our Place.
Eby expects a decision on the latter will be made by November. “I certainly would expect that there would be strong consideration given any application from Our Place,” he said.
New Roads resident Tyson Airaksinen talked to the ministers, board members and media gathered and called the centre a “lifeline.” Airaksinen said the program helped him to examine the underlying causes of his addictions and behaviours, heal, develop new skills, and gain a profound understanding of himself.
New Roads accepts referrals upon a person’s release from custody, from Island Health or from other community organizations. Individuals can also request services themselves.
Our Place Society has information on the intake process and referral forms online.
Julian Daly, chief executive officer at Our Place Society, said the provincial funding is supporting life-changing and lifesaving work.
“New Roads is consistently proving that sustained recovery and sobriety is possible,” he said. “It really works.”
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