Bluewater Health has received $445,000 to open eight, temporary, 24/7 withdrawal management beds to help people struggling with addiction in Sarnia.
The funding, provided by the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) through Ontario's Strategy to Prevent Opioid Addiction and Overdose, was announced during a news conference at the hospital Friday morning.
Bluewater Health's Mental Health & Addictions Vice President Paula Reaume-Zimmer says it's a huge milestone toward the establishment of a permanent facility.
"It's the reality of all of the hard work and advocacy," says Reaume-Zimmer. "It has finally come to fruition and we're really working hard to make it happen as quickly as we can."
She says an area in the Russell St. building has been identified for the beds and plans are underway to convert the area with the least amount of renovations as possible.
"The most likely site will be on the sixth floor with addictions services, it's not 100%, but it seems that is going to be the soonest space that we can have in place. January is the target that we are going to open the doors to the eight [patients] with residential beds."
Reaume-Zimmer says the community is familiar with the space because community withdrawal management services have been operating from that area since 2014.
Sarnia police are welcoming the announcement with enthusiasm.
"Most of the power we have, unfortunately, is to arrest people and that is not a solution because this truly is a disease," says Constable John Sottosanti. "We also realize this is just the beginning. Over the 18-years that I've been a police officer we have seen a drastic change in the drug culture and with the opioid abuse. It has become all encompassing. Not only from dealing with people who are taking the drugs but the spin-off from it -- all of the frauds and thefts that we deal with on a regular basis."
Laurie Hicks, whose son Ryan passed away from a Fentanyl overdose in March 2015, calls it a great start that's long overdue.
"Myself, my family and so many other families have been screaming for help," says Hicks. "If we wanted residential withdrawal, detox, whatever you want to call it... you go to Windsor or you go to London. Sometime's that's just not doable. You lose the chance at helping a family member. Eight beds is not a lot, but it's better then nothing."
In the meantime, Lennard Commercial Realty out of Toronto has been retained to work on securing a site for the permanent withdrawal management centre.
The company has been asked to present a short list of sites by mid-December.
The proposed $10-million centre would provide ten residential, six stabilization and eight observation beds, addictions counselling and day treatment.
LHIN invests $445,000 in Sarnia Lambton so Bluewater Health can open a temporary withdrawal management site. https://t.co/nbNxHvukn5
— Melanie Irwin (@MIrwinCHOKNews) October 20, 2017
Sarnia Police Constable John Sottosanti welcomes announcement. https://t.co/8w8WxKRpZL
— Melanie Irwin (@MIrwinCHOKNews) October 20, 2017
Advocate Lori Hicks speaks about why it’s important. https://t.co/OBhZXPp7VR
— Melanie Irwin (@MIrwinCHOKNews) October 20, 2017