By Ian Holmes

Substance use beds filling void in Nanaimo

Feb 16, 2017 | 1:34 PM

NANAIMO —Nine new substance use beds for people hoping for a sober lifestyle are now operating at two Nanaimo locations, according to Island Health.

Lisa Murphy, Island Health’s director for mental health and substance use on the central and north island, said four supportive recovery beds for an older population opened in Nanaimo’s downtown area in November, while five sobering and assessment beds in the hospital area debuted on Jan. 1.

She said both subsidized services are filling a void in the community.

“They offer significant support to clients and families and significant support to other services such as the emergency department, which clients had often accessed in the past,” Murphy said.

She noted the sobering assessment beds are a unique new offering designed to create a welcoming, non-intimidating environment.

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“The evidence and client voices, family voices would say that a safe entry point into services for people who are still using is the key ingredient in that service continuum.”

Murphy noted that usage of both services, which has a heavy emphasis on substance use clients and those with mental health issues, is at 50 per cent so far.

“Which is what we’d expect as people get used to the services, clients get used to accessing and other service providers get used to referring people and suggesting it to clients and families.”

The nine new beds in Nanaimo provide a regional service and are part of 500 substance use spaces promised by Premier Christy Clark, according to Murphy.

Ian.holmes@jpbg.ca

Twitter @reporterholmes