Detox centre works out kinks

“When someone wants to move from the brief side to the social detox and there isn’t space, they are released from care. However in cases when someone is pregnant or really needs to be detoxed or are from far away and you don’t want to have to send them away, they are held in the brief side in transitional beds,” said Dr. Leo Lanoie, an addictions specialist in Prince Albert.

“However, there isn’t anything budgeted in the health for transitional beds,” he said.

“So usually one of the staff or one of the physicians provides a little money to buy food for the patients till they get over. It’s not a big deal, but it’s kind of an embarrassment that the health region won’t provide that,” Lanoie said.

“For the few time that it happens usually the staff is able to pass the hat around, get enough money … I mean how much does it cost to feed somebody for a day or two.”

“It doesn’t happen that often, but with stays up to 10 days, the six social detox beds are often full,” Lanoie said.

“It’s just something that becomes a stumbling block to good care,” he said.
Clients who have been through the social detox speak highly of their experience.

One client said that six days after entering he felt ready to move forward and was entering a treatment program.

“I’ll sobre up there, get on with my life after, go to work,” he said.

ahill@panow.com

by Angela Hill

Detox centre works out kinks

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