Announcing new substance use beds and poster ad campaign as part of our overdose prevention and response

August 29, 2016

SURREY – Today Fraser Health is launching a poster ad campaign to raise awareness of the overdose crisis in the province. We are also taking this opportunity to update the work we have done to open new substance use beds in the region, serving a variety of populations including pregnant women.

“The distribution of posters throughout the Fraser Health region is an extension of the public awareness campaign we launched earlier in August with a social media toolkit,” said Dr. Victoria Lee, chief medical health officer, Fraser Health. “But public awareness alone is not enough. As a component of our comprehensive overdose prevention and response strategy, we’ve created new substance use beds to provide safe and supportive environments for people that require additional support on their road to recovery”

Fraser Health has opened 50 new substance use beds over the last 12-18 months. The new beds provide additional capacity for individuals with substance use challenges and support them on their road to recovery. A number of the beds will support specialized populations including a 12 bed program supporting women with substance use challenges who are pregnant or have newborns.

The 50 beds include:

• 3 beds – Last Door for Youth (support recovery)
• 10 beds – Maple Ridge Treatment Centre (transitional / stabilization)
• 4 beds – Kinghaven (transitional / stabilization)
• 12 beds – Elizabeth Fry Society – Ellendale “Cradle” program (support recovery)
• 5 beds – Last Door for Adults (support recovery)
• 10 beds – Elizabeth Fry Society (transitional / stabilization)
• 1 bed – Westminster House (support recovery)
• 3 beds –  Charleford House (support recovery)
• 2 beds – Telmexw Awtexw Healing Centre (transitional / stabilization)

As we look to expand our continuum of care for people living with substance use issues, we will be creating beds across the region that support people in their recovery allowing them to transition to a more stable life.

In addition to the new beds, beginning today we are distributing posters in various community locations including transit stops, bars and restaurants. The posters accompany an ongoing social media awareness campaign targeting various types of people who use drugs, their families and friends. The posters and the social media campaign can be found on our overdose hub under the heading public awareness campaign at www.fraserhealth.ca/overdose.

The posters were tested in focus groups with people who use drugs on a daily basis and more occasional users to increase their effectiveness. Focus groups were keen to provide insights that helped inform the messaging, including an emphasis on how to prevent an overdose and how to respond to an overdose. The participants also weighed in on the imagery used and the tone of the posters. The intent of the focus groups was to increase uptake of the campaign and help change people’s behaviour.

International Overdose Awareness Day is August 31. A public health emergency was called on April 14th by British Columbia’s provincial health officer, Dr. Perry Kendall and remains in effect. Recently, Premier Christy Clark announced a newly-formed Joint Task Force on Overdose Response headed by Dr. Kendall and Clayton Pecknold, Director of Police Services.

Backgrounder

Support recovery beds provide a safe, supportive environment for individuals who are experiencing substance use problems. Support recovery programs deliver moderate, time-limited supports and services for clients. They meet the needs of individuals who are preparing to enter residential treatment or those who have left more intensive residential treatment but who require additional support to reintegrate into the community, or for those requiring a longer term structured environment while preparing to transition into a more stable lifestyle. Activities may include coaching for daily living, community reintegration, vocational and educational planning, participating in mutual aid supports, counseling and case management, and wrap-around services. Individuals access outpatient and other community treatment services and supports.  Services may be provided in facilities that are registered under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act. Programs generally range from 30-90 days.

Transitional and stabilization beds also provide a safe, supportive environment for individuals who are experiencing substance use problems, but require short- to medium- term supports (from 24 hours to 30 days). Transitional services are provided in a community residential setting. Stabilization supports are provided to individuals in post-acute withdrawal from substances, and are offered either with or without medical supervision. Supports are provided to individuals who may be transitioning into or out of a residential or withdrawal management bed, or who are awaiting housing and may not have an adequate plan for continued treatment or an adequate level of support and safe housing while awaiting the transition.

Regional Substance Use Services – children, youth and adults

Outpatient Treatment

• Two Fraser Health owned/operated outpatient programs (in Burnaby and Surrey) provide services for children, youth, adults and older adults. As well, 17 contracted agencies provide outpatient services including three specific to youth, one specific to culturally diverse populations and one to Aboriginal populations.
• Two DEWY (Day, Evening, Weekend Youth) intensive day treatment programs, located in New Westminster and Surrey
• TEAM (co-ed); WELL (women); MELL (men): adult intensive recovery day treatment program
• Primary Care Services & Opiate Substitution Therapy Clinic: medical and substance use care and treatment

Residential Programs

• 137 beds in three intensive residential treatment programs
• Three intensive day treatment programs for adults
  • Maple Ridge Treatment Centre : Fraser Health owned and operated for adult men
  • Kinghaven Treatment Centre: for adult men
  • Peardonville House: for women and their preschool aged children
• 158 beds (incl. 4 youth) in 11 support recovery homes/stabilization and transitional living residences (STLR) for individuals post-detox
• 26 transitional housing units for substance use clients post treatment

Withdrawal Management

• Creekside Withdrawal Management Service: 24 adult detox and six youth detox, 30-day stabilization beds
• Creekside Daytox Program: medically monitored day program
• Riverstone Home/Mobile Detox/Daytox: medically supported residential and home services for Fraser East communities and Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows
• Quibble Creek Sobering & Assessment Centre: medical and substance use care and treatment

For media inquiries, please contact:

Fraser Health Media Pager: 604-450-7881
media@fraserhealth.ca

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