The B.C. government is adding 17 new addiction recovery beds in northern B.C.
Operated by non-profit providers, these supportive recovery beds are distributed throughout northern B.C., with six beds in Dawson Creek, two in Quesnel, three in Terrace, two in Prince Rupert, one in Kitimat and one on Haida Gwaii.
"Our government believes in the strength of community support," said Jennifer Whiteside, mental health and addictions minister.
"To cut down on the distance that many in northern B.C. have had to go for help, we're introducing new supportive recovery beds to bring that crucial support to communities across the North."
Fifteen of the 17 beds are in place. The remaining two planned for Fort St. John will be operational soon. Under the guidance of Northern Health's referral system, these beds open doors for more people in their community to find the support and treatment they need.
“Local leaders and health professionals have long called for more mental-health and addictions support for people living in the North. This work is about our commitment to community and care, and these new beds will provide a crucial stepping-stone for people in recovery,” said Nathan Cullen, MLA for Stikine.
"The addition of these beds is an important step in ensuring that more individuals who face addiction challenges can access the supports they need in a timely way, and in their own community. I am grateful for the investment and effort dedicated to expanding these supports across the North,” said Colleen Nyce, chair of the board of directors, Northern Health.
To access these services, people can reach out to their primary-care provider, the mental-health and substance-use services in their community directly or to the supportive recovery service provider or online.
