Interior Health has awarded a contract for 10 new youth substance use treatment beds in Kamloops.
“Making sure young people and their families have access to the substance use and mental health care they need is more important than ever before,” said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “These beds are the beginning of many more that we are establishing across the province so youth can receive the services they need closer to home. I’m grateful to Active Care Youth and Adult Services for their dedication and commitment to supporting youth at a time when they need it most.”
The contract has been awarded to A New Tomorrow Treatment Solutions, which is a partnership between the principals of Active Care Youth and Adult Services and Dr. Mandy Manak in Kamloops.
“These home-like treatment environments will make a significant impact in the lives of youth who need a higher level of support. With this investment, we are well-positioned to make a tremendous difference for families and young people throughout the Interior region who need intensive substance use treatment,” said Susan Brown, president and CEO of Interior Health.
Inpatient treatment beds are one piece of a continuum of care for addiction issues and provide a short-term “live in” environment with daily programming to address the underlying causes of a person’s substance use. Others include outpatient-based treatment and withdrawal management. It is important to have a range of services available as each person’s experience with addiction is unique, as is their experience of recovery.
The new beds will be available for youth living in Interior Health between the ages of 12-18 who have significant and complex substance use challenges, who have not been successfully supported through less-intensive treatment.
The new beds will open this spring and follow the announcement of 10 youth substance use treatment beds in Kelowna.
“We at Active Care were having conversations about youth treatment with Dr. Manak and Interior Health’s RFP was very similar to the vision we had been exploring for years,” said Daryl Smeeton, CEO of Active Care Services. “Active Care Youth and Adult Services have been providing service for children and youth in B.C. for almost 30 years and we are thrilled to be joining with Dr. Manak – a renowned addictions, mental health practitioner – and Interior Health, to address a need that we all recognize.”
The 20 new beds in Interior Health are part of the Province’s commitment to double the number of youth substance use beds available in B.C. announced on August 13, 2020. The Ministry of Health and Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions committed to implementing 123 new beds across the province as part of the 10-year strategy Pathway to Hope.
For more information about substance use services in Interior Health, visit www.interiorhealth.ca
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