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...
Sober Living Programs in Vancouver, BC
Luke has been struggling with substance dependence off and on. He is currently sober and living in a Salvation Army shelter in Langley, BC. He no longer wants to be there anymore because he said he’s ready to try to move forward with his life. He contacted us for help getting into both treatment and sober living. Our first suggestion was a program for men in Abbotsford called Kinghaven Treatment Centre, which has three options for treatment: a 70-day primary program, 90+ sober support recovery, and sober/staged living. We also suggested the MRTC but he said his problem originated in Maple ridge and didn’t want to go back to the area. We gave him his local Langley mental health and addictions office so that he could get the correct referrals for treatment. We also gave a long list of other sober support homes that may be willing to take him pre-treatment while he waits for a place in a treatment program. He had mentioned that he had a phone call from Innervisions Recovery Society and was hoping to snag one of their Ministry of Health beds for treatment. Luke seemed grateful over the phone and was happy that he’d found our hotline. He’d spent much of his day looking for local resources with no luck and said we were the first organization willing to spend time explaining all the options available to him. Here is contact information for all the programs we recommended to Luke. If you believe you or your loved one is in a similar situation, perhaps this information will be useful. For additional support, feel free to contact us. Kinghaven Treatment Centre 31250 King Road, Abbotsford Phone: (604) 864-0039 Toll-free: 1(877) 864-0039 Note: for adult men. Intake hours are 8:30 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday. Raven’s Moon Resources 3401 Shuswap Terrace, Abbotsford, BC V2T 4Z4 Phone: (604) 855-8322 E-mail: ravensmoonresources@hotmail.ca Note: 1st, 2nd & 3rd stage supportive transitional housing using an empowerment model. We also have a house for women with children, with children in care or who are pregnant. InnerVisions Recovery Society Miller House, 837 Miller Avenue Coquitlam, BC Phone: (604) 468-2032 Toll-free: 1(877) 939-1420 E-Mail: helpme@innervisionsrecovery.com Website: www.innervisions1.ca Note: This is a fee for service program for men 19+. Program is 60days in length. There are some MOH beds for those who qualify. . A Better Place Transition Housing PO Box 42582, Columbia Square, New Westminster, BC V3M 6L7 Phone: (778) 889-8555 Website: www.abetterplacetransitionhousing.ca E-Mail: service@abetterplacetransitionhousing.ca E-Mail: abetterplace8587@yahoo.com Note: There are 20 beds for men 19+. Clients must attend 4 supportive recovery meetings per week. Clients must be sober prior to admission. Clients must be willing to seek education, employment, volunteering, or vocational training. For the address please call Don Reda – Director. Revolution Recovery Ltd. Surrey, BC Phone: (604) 349-7200 Phone: (604) 220-7486 (admissions) E-Mail: Use form on “contact us” page Website: www.revolutionrecoveryltd.ca Note: To find out the location please call. There are houses for both men and women 19+. Clients can self-refer. Clients must be sober prior to...
Alcohol Treatment near Vancouver, BC
Mitch called us looking for private treatment programs that will help him give up alcohol completely. Here are some options we thought would work best for him: 12 STEP PROGRAMS with a HOLISTIC MODEL Orchard Recovery and Treatment Center Bowen Island, BC (off coast of Vancouver) $14,000+tax for 28-day program. An established, well-respected treatment program. Medical professionals on-site. Programs range up to 90 days. The receptionists are great to talk to and find out basic details. You can make contact by using either of the two telephone numbers below. Phone: (604) 947-0420 Toll-free: 1(866) 233-2299 NON 12 STEP Sunshine Coast Health Center $15,000 for 30 days. A private program for men. Program includes medically-supervised detoxification, masters-level therapists, on-site recreation (including indoor lap pool), psychiatric assessment, refresher courses (aftercare), online support (aftercare), family program, and couples program. Program lengths include 30, 42, 60, and 90 days. Returning alumni have more flexible lengths of stay. SCHC uses an evidence-based, meaning-centered approach. Contact Sara at the toll-free number below for more details. 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 HOME TREATMENT ALTERNATIVE RECOVER FOR GOOD Arnold offers 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 helps you set up a recovery community in your area and supports you through changing 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 without drinking until new patterns have been established. You would not 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 support. Arnold also operates Summit-Bridge, a fee-for-service withdrawal management service. They come to your chosen location and offer you 24/7 care and assistance through the initial withdrawal period. They use naturopathic and traditional western medicine doctors and other health care providers. They provide intervention services Canada-wide. CONTACT Arnold Mulessa or “Summit-Bridge Consulting Group Vancouver” by: BC Phone: (604) 725-0121 Toll-free: 1.800.726.4075 Website: www.summit–bridge.com Email:...
Methadone Withdrawal Units in BC
For someone living with chronic pain there is nothing worse than finding out your have now become completely dependent on your opiate-based prescriptions. Your body has become tolerant to the drugs and you find yourself constantly increasing your medication just keep your pain tolerable or your withdrawal symptoms away. Your doctor who is supposed to be monitoring you just keeps writing you the scripts for more, stronger drugs rather than suggesting it’s time to wean you off these medications and send you to holistic or non-narcotic pain management alternatives. This medication mismanagement has become a problem for many people who never thought they would end up having an addiction. Unfortunately, this problem is worse that we thought. After you have decided you no longer want to be on the medications, the average person will ask their general practitioner or prescribing physician that they would like to stop taking these medications. One of two options happen – the patient is sent to a medically supervised withdrawal unit within their local health authority (e.g. VCH, FVA, VIHA) where they will spend an average of 5-14 days going through withdrawal. The other option is to be prescribed the anti-craving drug methadone. Once on methadone, a patient starts a minimum dose, which is increased until the client is stabilized. Eventually, most clients on a methadone maintenance program will want to stop using it. They will find that Methadone is incredibly difficult to stop using. Once on this anti-craving drug there are few programs that will provide you treatment for your addiction or any withdrawal units to help you come off the drugs completely. The withdrawal symptoms from methadone have been described as being worse than opiates themselves. After contacting each of the major detox units in each of the five health authorities we have discovered that most withdrawal units will want you to be on little to no methadone in order to help you through your withdrawal. Medically Supervised Withdrawal Units in the five BC Health Authorities NORTHERN HEALTH AUTHORITY Adult Withdrawal Management Unit 1308 Alward St. Prince George, BC V2M 7B1 Phone: (250) 565-2175 Must be 30mg or less to go to this withdrawal unit VANCOUVER ISLAND HEALTH AUTHORITY Victoria Medical Society Eric Martin Pavillion, 5A-2334 Trent St. Victoria, BC V8R 4Z3 Main Phone: (250) 519-7708 Intake Phone: (250) 213-4441 Must be 25mg or less to go to this withdrawal unit INTERIOR HEALTH AUTHORITY Phoenix Centre 922 3rd Avenue, Kamloops, BC V2C 6W5 Phone: (250) 374-4634 Text: (250) 320-0341 (M-F 9am-3:30pm) Toll-Free: 1(877) 318-1177 Fax: (250) 374-4621 Must be 30mg or less to go to this withdrawal unit VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY Access Central Toll-free: 1(866) 658-1221 Note: for referrals to detox and supportive recovery housing. Access Central is staffed with social workers who can provide on-the-spot counselling and coping strategies. Hours are 9 am to 7:45 pm seven days a week. Messages left on voice mail will be returned the following day. Must not be on Methadone Harbour Light Detox (Cordova Detox) Salvation Army 119 East Cordova St. Vancouver, BC V6A 1K8 Phone: (604) 646-6808 ext. 2 Toll-Free: 1(866) 658-1221 ext. 2 Fax: (604) 646-6840 Vancouver Detox 377 East 2nd Ave. Vancouver, BC V5T 1B9 Phone: (604) 658-1280 (non-admissions calls) Phone: 1(866) 658-1221 (Access Central – Admissions) FRASER VALLEY HEALTH AUTHORITY 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) Must be at 10mg or less to go to this withdrawal unit For more information on finding treatment resources for yourself or someone you know please call 1-877-746-1963 or email info@canadadrugrehab.ca or...
