Youth addiction services to be available next fall
Youth dealing with addiction won’t have to seek treatment outside of the territory as of next September – if everything goes on track.
Youth dealing with addiction won’t have to seek treatment outside of the territory as of next September – if everything goes on track.
The construction of a new building housing addiction and residential treatments for youth and adults is set to be completed by the end of the summer.
The new building is replacing one which dates back to 1961 and which was only offering outpatient addiction services for youth.
It will keep the same name – the Sarah Steele Building – and the same location on Sixth Avenue.
It will have a 24/7 withdrawal service and a gender-specific residential treatment program.
The youth component will have eight beds: four for the withdrawal program and four for the treatment program.
There will be seven youth workers and two auxiliary-on-call workers.
Construction for the new building began in May 2015. It’s scheduled to be completed by late summer.
The planning started in 2013.
Health and Social Services Minister Mike Nixon called it a “huge step” Wednesday in an interview with the Star.
The programs will be client-focused, he said.
That means that it will allow for more flexibility.
If a youth needs to stay beyond the regular 28 days set for treatment, he or she will be able to do so, Nixon explained.
“We’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” NDP health critic Jan Stick told the Star yesterday.
In fact, she said, the opposition has been asking about it since the current government was elected in October 2011.
Stick said she’s had to work with families who send their children Outside for treatment.
She remains cautious about what exactly will be offered.
“This has been a long time coming – let’s see what their policies are going to be, what programs are gonna be offered,” Stick said.
The Department of Health and Social Services provided the Star with a general list of what will be available: withdrawal management for youth, counselling services, intensive treatment, community addiction program and prevention and education.
The Star asked for more details about the services offered.
“Services are provided on a client-centred continuum; each service complements the other, and both services are equally important within this continuum,” said Pat Living, a spokesperson for the department.
In 2011, the Yukon Party promised that if re-elected, it would build a $5-million facility for alcohol and drug addiction treatment.
It underscored the need for separate addiction treatments for adults and youth.
The total cost of the new Sarah Steele Building is estimated at $21 million.
The structure also comes with a $2-million operating and maintenance price tag in the 2016-2017 budget.
Pasloski emphasized at the time the need for the building to have an after-care centre.
“Asking people who want to get well to return to an environment that is unhealthy for them, really is not a recipe for success,” he said.
“They need safe accommodations, after-care resources and support to succeed and we will provide that for them,” he said in 2011.
Once the residential treatment program is completed, youth will be followed through an outpatient program and through the schools, the department told the Star today.
Comments (3)
Up 9 Down 1
Incredulous on Apr 8, 2016 at 11:40 pm
I can tell you they don't talk to you like that in a session. Over the past several years, I have seen a couple of different counsellors at the Sarah Steele Building. The counsellors are dedicated to helping their clients, but like anything, bureaucracy and government red tape binds their hands sometimes from providing the kind of help that is needed. Also, one of the most important things any alcoholic can do is go to AA meetings. A lot of the people who relapse, don't go to meetings. I don't know about addicts of other drugs, or NA meetings. I assume it's much the same.
I'm very excited for the new building to open. As a recovering alcoholic, who has been through the 28 day program at Sarah Steele, I'm thrilled with the additions they are making. These changes could mean the difference between staying sober/clean, or using... And we all know that ultimately means life or death for many of us.
I'm behind the staff all the way. They will do their best.
Up 9 Down 23
Step in the right direction on Apr 8, 2016 at 12:02 pm
I'm happy that services like this will be offered locally. That will save on costs for sure.
But I also do believe the people should leave the territory for treatment for treatment to be effective. Addicts need to be taken away from their influences (usually people more than the addictive substance) all together. Maybe they could have an exchange program with other detox centres.
Up 7 Down 5
Lost in the Yukon on Apr 7, 2016 at 9:07 pm
"Services are provided on a client-centred continuum; each service complements the other, and both services are equally important within this continuum,” said Pat Living, a spokesperson for the department."
WTHeck... can someone put that into English? Obviously written in a manner that is deliberately confusing because the real answer is "We don't have a clue what we're doing!"
No wonder the relapse rate is reported to be high ... imagine sitting in a session and this is how they talk to you!