Mutual Support Groups in Vancouver, BC
Rachael, a professional, called us looking to get contacts from other agencies and meetings groups that are well attended so she can spread the word about her event. If you are also a professional looking for ideas on spreading awareness surrounding an addiction treatment service or advocacy event, this blog may be helpful. We suggest getting in touch with the Vancouver Intergroup Society to find out which Metro Vancouver meetings are attended most. They will have more information then we do. Since we provide information on a national level for people looking to for various resources relative to addiction, our knowledge of which meetings are more attended than others is not going to be very strong. Here’s what information we do have, which might give you a headstart. This page hosts a wealth of information for meeting groups, therapists, outpatient offices, residential treatment programs, and medical options (doctors, clinics, detox, etc): Vancouver Addiction Resources This agency is a great advocate for addicts and the professionals that help them: Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) 380 E. Hastings St., Vancouver Phone: (604) 683-6061 Description: Promotes health through user-based peer support, education, and outreach. Provides stipends for harm reduction, needle exchange, and street programming at Carnegie Centre. This is all the contact for the meetings. I have highlighted the intergroup society. They are very helpful. I have called in several times to help other clients of mine. Regional Mutual Support Group Contact Information Al-Anon/Alateen Phone: (604) 688-1716 Note: See the Kelowna section for the BC Interior Office and the Victoria section for the Vancouver Island Office. Alcoholics Anonymous – BC Yukon Area 79 Phone: (604) 435-2181 Email: info@bcyukonaa.org Alcoholics Anonymous – Greater Vancouver Intergroup Society 3457 Kingsway, Vancouver Phone: (604) 434-3933 Note: See the Victoria section for the AA Central Office in Victoria. Alcoholics Anonymous – Area 78 Note: Covers North Eastern BC (Peace River area) and South Eastern BC (East Kootenays). Alcoholics Anonymous – Area 92 (Washington State East Area) Note: Covers South Eastern BC AA meetings (Nakusp, Slocan, Kaslo, Winlaw, Fruitvale, New Denver, Nelson, Castlegar, Trail and Salmo). Cocaine Anonymous – BC Area 131 – 19567 Fraser Highway, Surrey Phone: (604) 662-8500 Toll-free: 1(800) 662-8300 Nar-Anon British Columbia or Nar-Anon Vancouver Phone: (604) 878-8844 Narcotics Anonymous – BC Region Phone: (604) 873-1018 Narcotics Anonymous – Canadian Assembly Winnipeg, Manitoba Narcotics Anonymous – Chinook Area Calgary, Alberta Phone: (403) 569-3427 Note: covers NA meetings for Cranbrook, Fernie, and Kimberley SMART Recovery Vancouver Phone: (604) 714-3480...
Fraser Valley Health Authority Detox Units
The mother in this blog, Kelly*, was looking strictly for detox. She knew about the public detoxes in FVHA and said that she’d been using our site for weeks to find support resources for her son and herself. Her son, Adam*, remained sober for 8.5 months after treatment at Visionquest (a ministry of health facility). He has been using heroin and opiates for 10 years and has been in and out of residential treatment programs and jail for much of his young adult life. Kelly really wants to help get Adam sober so that she could help him stabilize again. We gave her the fee-for-service options that will provide detox without needing them to complete treatment. Kelly was originally interested in Orchard Recovery’s 10-day program because they will support Adam through his withdrawals, but she wasn’t aware he’d be required to participate in treatment as well. After explaining the fee-for- detox options, we discussed how Sunshine Coast Health Centre’s program may be a better fit when seeking treatment because of the strong mental health, non 12-step, evidence-based components. Adam would also see a psychiatrist to help diagnose mental health conditions. Sunshine Coast Health Center 2174 Fleury Road Powell River, BC V8A 0H8 Phone: (604) 487-9010 Toll-free: 1(866) 487-9010 E-Mail: info@schc.ca Description: A private program for men including medically-supervised detox, masters-level therapists, on-site recreation, psychiatric assessment, refresher courses (aftercare), online support (aftercare), and a family and couples program. Program length is 30, 42, 60, and 90 days while returning alumni have more flexible lengths of stay. Orchard Recovery and Treatment Center Bowen Island, BC Phone: (604) 947-0420 Toll-free: 1(866) 233-2299 Description: An established and well-respected treatment program. There is a supervised detox on site for withdrawals. They have programs ranging from 10 up to 90 days. This program will detox and offer 10 days of treatment for $6000. RECOVER FOR GOOD Summit-Bridge Consulting Group Vancouver, BC Phone: (604) 725-0121 Toll free: 1.800.726.4075 (Ask for Arnold Mulessa) Website: www.summit-bridge.com Email: info@recoverforgood.com Description: Arnold provides mobile home detox and sober companionship. You would either offer him a room in your home (if available) or put him up somewhere. He will see you through your withdrawals, if any. He would help you develop a recovery community and change patterns like drinking in the evening everyday. You would be able to continue to go to appointments and live life as normal, except you would have Arnold to help you get through the day until new patterns have been established. You don’t need to go to any programs and have them fit your needs, Arnold would give you 24/7 care in your home with complete one-on-one...
BC Alcohol Law Blog
An article published in early June reflected findings from a CARBC study that Canadians lowball the amount of alcohol they consume by up to 75%. According to CARBC Director, Tim Stockwell, accurate data on alcohol consumption is needed in order to accurately assess disease and injury cause by the substance. Clearly, then, correct statistics are necessary for effective public policy on societal alcohol use. How does this new knowledge impact our impressions on the new changes to BC liquor laws? The recommended changes to BC’s liquor policies will result in many changes such as alcohol primary vs. liquor primary establishments, special occasion liquor licensing (e.g. no more beer gardens), beer and wine sales in grocery stores, and spirit sales at sporting events. It may seem that these laxer liquor laws within a province of people that drinks more than they believe would be a risky combination. However, relaxed liquor regulations are believed to help reduce unhealthy patterns of alcohol consumption as these changes intend to encourage normative, moderate consumption behaviours. Increased exposure to alcohol will not result in more alcohol-related problems. Instead, it is expected to help encourage a social culture where having a drink or two is normative, not binge-drinking in an enclosed pen away from the main event or isolating liquor to an establishment barring anyone 19 years-old and under. It will no longer be this mysterious, taboo behaviour that has likely contributed to youth and young adults’ eagerness to engage in. Alcohol is one of the most widely abused substances in North America, including Canada. Many people across Canada struggle with alcohol dependency and addiction issues. These health issues are usually caused by other underlying factors such as an existing mental health condition (e.g. dual diagnosis), a history of child and/or sexual abuse, trauma, lack of meaning, and much more. These influences are minimally affected by reduce alcohol restrictions. If anything, problematic social drinking will gain more awareness as regulations debase a culture that influences either abstinence or intoxication and encourage one that sees moderate drinking as the societal norm. References 1. Canadians grossly underestimate their alcohol consumption: study 2. Liquor report out: removes beer garden, festival barriers 3. B.C. Liquor Policy Review Final...
Detox and Treatment for Multiple Addictions
Doug* is Rebecca’s stepfather. He has been apart of her life for over 15 years. Doug in his own words always treated Rebecca* like his own daughter. He always wanted to help her or be there for her. She has always been a drinker according to him. According to Doug, Rebecca has estranged herself from the family. She’s always kept herself a minimum of arms length if not more from the family. They often go years without speaking to one another. This last bout lasted about 8ish years. When Rebecca moved to Victoria, she drank heavily. She’s been in and out of bad relationships and Doug thinks her most recent relationship got her hooked on cocaine and, maybe, methamphetamines. She’s left Victoria and believed to floating around in Surrey. Doug and Rebecca’s mother live in Aldergrove. They know that a public treatment program is likely not going to meet Rebecca’s needs. Doug wants to be ready with resources if she contacts them, so he contacted us to get information for programs that will be able to help her deal with a strong dependence of alcohol and new addiction to substances. Here’s what we offered him: DETOX UNITS This is the closest medically serviced withdrawal unit to you. They will see Rebecca through her withdrawals should if she chooses a treatment program not including detox. Creekside Withdrawal Management Centre 13740 94 A Avenue, Surrey, BC V3V 1N1 Phone: (604) 587-3755 ext.1 (adults) Phone: (604) 587-3755 ext.2 (youth) A 30-bed detox unit located on the grounds of Surrey Memorial Hospital. Creekside has 24 adult and 6 youth beds. PRIVATE, REPUTABLE TREATMENT PROGRAMS NON 12 STEP PROGRAM Life Science Addiction Treatment Center 114 Rue Kimpton, Rigaud, QC J0P 1P0 Contact Person: Marjorie Clark (Clinical director) Phone: (450) 451-9995 Fax: (450) 451-9995 Website: www.life-science.ca E-Mail: info@life-science.ca This is a fee-for-service co-ed treatment program for adults 18+. There are 30, 60, 90 day primary treatment programs with a 10 day maintenance program. They charge $8,000 for 30 days (extensions up to 90 days can happen). They use evidence and best practices model. They want to work with the client and design a treatment program that works best for them. They will help with implementing proper coping strategies in regards to stress. Treatment takes place in a home like environment in a rural area of Quebec. It is an English speaking program. If necessary you will be seen by a psychiatrist for mental health assessment and treatment, as well as an addiction medicine doctor. This program is good for people who need significant and behavioural therapies. However, this program will require that Vanessa be sober prior to admission, as they do not have detox on site. TRADITIONAL 12 STEP PROGRAMS with a HOLISTIC MODEL Orchard Recovery Center 811 Grafton Road Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2 Contact Person: Joanna Journet Phone: (604) 947-0420 Toll-free: 1(866) 233-2299 Note: a private co-ed residential treatment center. Orchard charges $14,000+tax for their 28-day program. The director at this centre has been there for a long time which is a good indication that this program is going to offer you what is on the website. They are an established well respected treatment program. There is a supervised detox on site and they will see her though her withdrawals. They have programs that range up to 90 days. Leipzig Serenity Retreat Box 535, Wilkie, SK S0K 4W0 Contact: Ardyth or Jacqueline Phone: (306) 658-4767 E-Mail: leipziginfo@sasktel.net Website: www.leipzigserenityretreat.com A private co-ed residential treatment facility based on the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. A no frills 12-step program with lots of counselling in...
The Struggle with Enforcing Addiction Treatment
Kristina lives in Surrey, BC and called us looking for a residential program to satisfy school requirements to show she is not an alcoholic. However, Kristina did not want to go to treatment and was only doing this for external reasons (e.g. the school told her to). She said she didn’t really have money to pay for treatment and that she didn’t want to go onto welfare to have the government pay for it fully. She’s been trying to do it herself for 6 weeks, but doesn’t have much longer to get into a treatment program before she becomes ineligible for her school program. We told Kristina the only programs that are going to take her right away are private programs that she would have to pay for. The minimum for these types of treatment is approximately $7,000. Like everyone else trying to access public treatment, we told Kristina she would need to start the standard process of being referred into the closest residential programs, which, for her, was in Peardonville, BC and run by the FVHA (Fraser Valley Health Authority). Once in a referral office, we mentioned there was chance she could be referred to Pacifica in Vancouver and possibly a few other programs. Other options we suggested, in the case she couldn’t secure residential treatment, was getting documentation showing she was registered in an outpatient program and therapy. If the school agreed, Kristina could set up a form that would document her attendance at peer-support meetings like AA, LifeRing, and SMART Recovery (e.g. a moderator would sign off on her attendance). This would show her school that as she was waiting to get into treatment that she was trying to use the resources available to her. Even though we provided her resources, there are generally few positive outcomes in cases like these where the caller is not truly interested in addressing his or her substance issues. It is important for treatment and recovery to be a personal choice, not one externally motivated. Nevertheless, the exposure and involvement in treatment, outpatient programs, and our peer-support groups will still be beneficial to Kristina by providing resources for addressing her health that she may utilize at a later date when she decides it’s time for change. Recovery and change is a process, not something that happens...
