The Withdrawal Management Services Unit at the Chatham hospital is off to a decent start.
President and CEO Lori Marshall said 77 patients have been admitted to the unit from August 13, 2022 to September 28, 2022.
However, the average occupancy of the unit since it opened has only been 57 per cent.
The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) said it's keeping a close eye on volume at the facility and is optimistic use will rise as the community becomes more aware of the program's existence.
"The occupancy is expected to increase as our community is aware the service is available to clients and we will continue to monitor occupancy for the service," said CKHA.
Marshall said the 10-bed unit has been full at times, adding that it underscores the need for the services.
Marshall previously said the new unit will take some pressure off other departments, such as the emergency department, which gets about 500 opioid-related visits a year.
The facility operates 24 hours a day, every day in the former outpatient mental health services building. Withdrawal management helps individuals who struggle with substance use, including drugs, alcohol, and/or prescription medications.