DETOX CENTRE OPENS

New Facility Will Provide 30 Beds

Help for this city's most drug addicted has arrived.

Creekside Withdrawal Management Centre, funded by the province
through the Fraser Health Authority, was officially opened Thursday
afternoon at 13740 94 A Avenue, across from Surrey Memorial Hospital.

It includes 30 beds for drug and alcohol detoxification -- 24 for
adults and six dedicated for youth.

Creekside replaces Burnaby's Maple Cottage, which supported 1,200
people annually.

Service providers have long said this city is in desperate need of
drug detox beds.

At Whalley's Front Room drop-in centre, in the 10600-block of 135A
Street, about two people a day come in to use the phones to call for
a detox bed.

The Front Room's Annette Welsh said the new centre is welcome news.

"We do have some dedicated youth beds, which I think is amazing," Welsh said.

"That's a huge bonus."

Currently, if someone appears at the Front Room who is drunk, stoned
or withdrawing to the point of needing medical attention, they are
sent to the hospital emergency ward. Creekside will offer a better option.

Mayor Dianne Watts is also pleased the opening.

"We've been pushing for a detox facility in Surrey for years," Watts said.

"To have it open up here in Surrey today is something the city really needs."

She said it fits in well with the city's crime reduction strategy to
get at the root causes of crime.

"A detox facility is step number one."

The site, owned by the Fraser Health Authority, was chosen as it
provides a central location for potential clients from all corners of
the region.

The Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation donated a portion of the land
for the centre.

Along with the withdrawal management area, the building centre will
also include space for a future "daytox" program and additional office space.