A new program, sa国际传媒ing for Wellness, offers support, education and wellness strategies for individuals and loved ones dealing with substance abuse in the West Shore.
The program, offered by AVI Health and Community Services Society, is funded in part by the Victoria Foundation.
sa国际传媒ing for Wellness offers two drop-in groups. One is for friends and families and the other is a peer-support meeting for people who have, or had, used drugs.
It is run from the Westshore AVI Health Centre, which offers free treatment and support to people struggling with opiate addiction. It practises opiate agonist therapy and offers primary care for people with substance-use disorders.
鈥淥piate agonist treatment involves taking agonists, opioids such as methadone and buprenophine that don鈥檛 cause a high, to replace the opioids 鈥� such as heroin 鈥� a person is addicted to,鈥� said Dr. Randal Mason, the centre鈥檚 medical director.
鈥淭here is strong evidence that the treatment, with support from family, results in a chance of recovery 鈥� or at least a stabilization of other aspects of their life.鈥�
The clinic, which opened in 2017, currently has 250 clients.
Some come in on their own and others have arrived with family and loved ones, who will attend appointments with them.
鈥淲e even have had children bringing in their parents,鈥� Mason听said.
Mason is more concerned with a hidden population he says is of the highest risk.
鈥淯nlike some populations of drug users, we have addicts in our community who are employed and have housing,鈥� he said.
鈥淭hey hide their substance use from family, but can experience high levels of stress and isolation.鈥�
Programs such as harm reduction and drug-addiction treatment services are typically dedicated to more visible users, such as those on the street.
When this hidden demographic overdoses at home, there is nobody nearby who can sound the alarm or administer Naloxone, a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
鈥渟a国际传媒ing for Wellness is about creating connections for this group, offering peer support and different support groups for individuals to join,鈥� Mason said.
The centre is staffed by three doctors three days a week, plus support staff and a social worker.
The sa国际传媒ing for Wellness program started in February and will continue all year.
The Friends and Family caregivers support group runs noon to 2 p.m. on Fridays. The Peer Support group meets 2:30 to 4 p.m. on Fridays. Both take place at the Westshore AVI Health Centre, 111-2787 Jacklin Rd.
For more information, go to avi.org.
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