CENTRAL HOTLINE FOR ADDICTS

Health officials in Vancouver are touting a new centralized phone
line that refers addicts to addiction and detox services.

The Access Central toll-free line will provide "one-stop shopping"
for adults with alcohol and drug addictions, Vancouver Coastal Health
president Ida Goodreau told reporters yesterday.

VCH is the first regional health authority in the province to use a
centralized addiction referral phone number, and Health Minister
George Abbott said he would eye it as a "best practice" that could be
rolled out province-wide in the future.

The number, 1-866-658-1221, has actually been tested for the last six
months, during which time 82 per cent of callers seeking detox were
referred to some kind of detox within 48 hours, according to VCH.
Roughly one-third of callers seeking addiction housing were referred.

The phone line is operated from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.

DIALING FOR DETOX

10,352 TOTAL CALLS:

- - 1,512 calls for detox

- - 1,482 booked into detox

- - 231 calls for addiction housing

- - 77 booked into addiction housing