News (Media Awareness Project) - CN AB: Detox Centre Opens |
| Title: | CN AB: Detox Centre Opens |
| Published On: | 2006-02-03 |
| Source: | Red Deer Advocate (CN AB) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-14 17:32:08 |
DETOX CENTRE OPENS
Red Deer's detox centre opened on Thursday with a full house - all
eight beds were assigned to people to help them withdraw from drugs or alcohol.
Kath Hoffman, residential director with Safe Harbour Society, said
she may have been the one unlocking the door, but she was doing it on
behalf of all the people who have worked over the last seven years to
get a detox centre in Red Deer.
"When I unlock that door this morning, I feel like I should have a
big marching band outside - it's so big, it's been so long," Hoffman
said before she turned the key at 4809 48th Ave., the temporary detox location.
"The City of Red Deer bent over backwards to help us. AADAC (Alberta
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission) has been phenomenal in their
support of this community."
The opening was delayed 17 days due to typical renovation issues and
inspections.
"We were really making sure we had all our t's crossed and i's
dotted," she said.
Finding a location for the controversial facility has been tough. The
search began in 2004.
Neighbourhood opposition downtown blocked efforts to use two other sites.
A permanent location for a 20-bed detox and a 20-bed overnight
shelter for people using drugs or alcohol was finally approved by
city council in December.
It will open in the fall at a former plumbing store at 5246 53rd Ave,
west of A&B Sound.
The temporary detox will make the service available until the
permanent location opens.
Safe Harbour has been providing transportation for people to Edmonton
or Calgary detox centres because nothing existed locally.
Two people are now on the waiting list for the Red Deer detox.
Hoffman hopes AADAC will continue to fund transportation to other
sites since there are only eight beds here to service Central Alberta.
About half the clients currently at the detox are from Red Deer.
People can find out if there is a bed available in Red Deer by
calling the centre at 347-0181.
Red Deer's public detox service is free of charge.
AADAC is providing $750,000 in annual funding to run the centre.
Red Deer's detox centre opened on Thursday with a full house - all
eight beds were assigned to people to help them withdraw from drugs or alcohol.
Kath Hoffman, residential director with Safe Harbour Society, said
she may have been the one unlocking the door, but she was doing it on
behalf of all the people who have worked over the last seven years to
get a detox centre in Red Deer.
"When I unlock that door this morning, I feel like I should have a
big marching band outside - it's so big, it's been so long," Hoffman
said before she turned the key at 4809 48th Ave., the temporary detox location.
"The City of Red Deer bent over backwards to help us. AADAC (Alberta
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission) has been phenomenal in their
support of this community."
The opening was delayed 17 days due to typical renovation issues and
inspections.
"We were really making sure we had all our t's crossed and i's
dotted," she said.
Finding a location for the controversial facility has been tough. The
search began in 2004.
Neighbourhood opposition downtown blocked efforts to use two other sites.
A permanent location for a 20-bed detox and a 20-bed overnight
shelter for people using drugs or alcohol was finally approved by
city council in December.
It will open in the fall at a former plumbing store at 5246 53rd Ave,
west of A&B Sound.
The temporary detox will make the service available until the
permanent location opens.
Safe Harbour has been providing transportation for people to Edmonton
or Calgary detox centres because nothing existed locally.
Two people are now on the waiting list for the Red Deer detox.
Hoffman hopes AADAC will continue to fund transportation to other
sites since there are only eight beds here to service Central Alberta.
About half the clients currently at the detox are from Red Deer.
People can find out if there is a bed available in Red Deer by
calling the centre at 347-0181.
Red Deer's public detox service is free of charge.
AADAC is providing $750,000 in annual funding to run the centre.
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