Health and Social Services Minister Mildred Dover announced Government's plans today to enhance Addictions Services across the province and construct a new 40-bed provincial addictions facility.
She advised that during the next three years, Addictions programs and services will be expanded in each of the five health regions to increase access to services and meet increasing demand for Addictions programs for women, youth and problem gamblers.
Construction of the new $3.2 million Provincial Addictions Centre will begin this spring at the site of the former provincial orphanage in Mt. Herbert. The Centre will offer a broad range of inpatient and day programs, including new services such as 24-hour access to inpatient detoxification services, women-specific programs, and family support programs.
Expanded day, evening and weekend programs will be introduced in each of the five health regions over the next three years. They will include screening and assessment, rehabilitation, relapse prevention, family, and follow-up programs for men, women, seniors and youth. Resources will be allocated immediately for programs for women and youth.
Minister Dover advised that Government is taking a comprehensive approach to address addictions which is one of the most important health and social issues confronting Islanders today.
The profile of the addicted person has changed dramatically in recent years, and more people are becoming addicted to or adversely affected by alcohol, drugs, gambling and other addictions. The minister advised that in the 1970's, the typical Addictions client was a male alcoholic, aged 35-55, and the needs of Addictions clients were fairly homogenous.
"Today we are treating a much younger population, and more women are seeking help. Over half our clients are cross-addicted to alcohol and one or more drugs, and new addictions such as problem gambling are a growing concern," she said. "Today's announcement also responds to changing demands on the Addictions service system, such as increased demand for programs for women and youth, and the steadily declining demand for inpatient detoxification services," she said.
Construction of a tertiary provincial Addictions facility was a recommendation of the 1997 Provincial Addictions Services Review. Preliminary planning for the new Provincial Addictions Centre is nearing completion.
"The new state-of-the-art health facility will be a vast improvement over our present facilities which are no longer adequate and cannot be repaired or upgraded," said the minister.
Construction of the new facility, and the resulting realignment of resources will facilitate the implementation of other recommendations outlined in the Provincial Addictions Review over a three-year period.
Programming for women and youth will be expanded immediately in each health region.
A Gambling Prevalence Study, now being conducted, will determine the extent of problem gambling in the province and support the development of gambling education and treatment programs.
Minister Dover advised that the medical model and abstinence philosophy is strongly supported by the self-help community and will be maintained. "We are most fortunate to have a very strong addictions self-help community in our province, and our self-help groups will continue to play a key role in the development and delivery of Addictions programs," she said.
Implementation of the recommendations of the review will be led by the new Provincial Addictions Client Services Coordinator, Maureen McIver, who was appointed in November 1998.