DEAL CLEARS THE WAY FOR MORE DETOX BEDS

Clearview Detox is a step closer to providing more treatment for Nanaimo's
burgeoning drug addict population.

City hall has finalized, and council gave the first three readings to a
bylaw Monday, to a residential shelter housing agreement Clearview needs
for an expansion now underway at 961 Haliburton St.

The agreement will allow the Communities Addiction Resource Society, which
operates Clearview, to provide more addiction treatment services this fall.

"It's very good news for the community, because they're that much closer to
being able to serve more people," said Shelley Garside, program director.

Clearview now treats 360 clients a year, with a wait list of between 40 and
50 people on any given day.

Some 1,767 people are turned away each year, and that number is expected to
rise with the growing popularity of highly addictive crystal
methamphetamine among young people.

The expansion will double the number of detox beds to 12, while adding two
new post-acute withdrawal care beds for women. "Right now we only have four
beds," Garside said.

The post-acute program provides support patients need in the early stages
of addiction recovery.

The expansion is next door to Clearview's existing facility at 967
Haliburton. It is expected to open Sept. 30.