A made-in-B.C. model of addictions care, which is improving the way people access services, is expanding, the province announced on Monday.
Road to Recovery establishes a seamless continuum of care for addictions from detox to treatment and after care. The expansion will include 100 substance-use treatment beds and outpatient services in all health authorities, as well as a single-access line to get connected to addictions care in each health-authority region.
“Every person’s journey to recovery is different so we need to make it easy for people to access the path that is right for them,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “Road to Recovery brings together addiction services into one seamless model to provide care every step of the way. We’re expanding this model of care across the province so that when people courageously reach out for help, they are met with the right support, no matter where they live.”
Initially launched at St. Paul’s Hospital and the Vancouver region, Road to Recovery makes it easier for people to get the care they need, where and when they need it. With this expansion, anyone in B.C. will have the ability to call a single line to get information, receive an assessment, develop an individualized care plan and access treatment.
For those who need treatment, they may access detox services or longer-term treatment services, which are also available as a bed-based service or outpatient supports. Through every step, clients are supported by someone who can connect them to community after-care supports such as day programs, life-skills classes and peer-recovery groups to help them stay on their path to wellness after treatment.
Since its launch in fall 2023, Road to Recovery in Vancouver has been quickly connecting people with the treatment they need. From October 2023 until June 2024, more than 1,500 people were supported to access detox services across three sites in Greater Vancouver, including Road to Recovery. During that same time, the 14 Road to Recovery detox beds at St. Paul’s Hospital served 419 unique clients, with a median wait time of one day for those prioritized as urgent. Data from the Vancouver program will be used to inform the expansion so that everyone can access quality care, regardless of where they live in British Columbia.
“Since creating and implementing the Road to Recovery initiative at St. Paul’s Hospital and in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, we’ve seen a tremendous impact on our community and our ability to provide evidence-based, culturally safe addiction care in a timely manner,” said Dr. Seonaid Nolan, head of addictions medicine, Providence Health Care. “Treatment, harm-reduction and recovery services are now readily available for those who seek them and are integrated seamlessly into the substance-use continuum of care in a single setting. The impact of Road to Recovery has been transformative and we’re so very excited to see this model expand to other communities across B.C.”
With a commitment of nearly $154 million over the next three years, expanding Road to Recovery is another significant step toward building a comprehensive system of mental-health and addictions care for everyone in British Columbia. The Province has made historic investments to expand addictions services and add more treatment and recovery beds to support people with addictions along their journey to wellness.
Dr. Sharon Vipler, program director for Addiction Medicine and Substance Use Services, Fraser Health Authority, said: “Road to Recovery will allow us to expand a thoughtful, intentioned and evidenced-based system of care. Our hope is that this system will provide a full continuum of care that can address individual needs at the time and place at which they are needed.”
Learn More:
For more information about the Road to Recovery model, visit:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/
For more information about treatment and recovery services in B.C., visit:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/
For more information about mental-health and substance-use supports in B.C., visit:
https://helpstartshere.gov.bc.
The Road to Recovery model
* This expansion is being enabled and guided by the Provincial Addiction Recovery Treatment and Support Network.
* This network brings together health partners to plan and improve addictions care for adults throughout the province.
* Through this network, medical and operational experts are driving improvements to addictions care across the province.
* Recovery is not a linear journey, and the Road to Recovery model helps people access the right care for their needs when they need it.
* When someone makes the brave decision to seek help, they can call the Access Central Line in their health-authority region to receive a same-day medical assessment and connection to care.
* Family members and loved ones can also call the line to get information for someone they know who is struggling with addiction.
* For those who need treatment, they may access detox services in a community clinic, hospital or at home depending on their needs.
* Some patients may require longer-term treatment services.
* These are also available as a bed-based service or outpatient supports, depending on need.
* Treatment services can range from:
– substance-use counselling;
– medication-assisted treatment for opioids;
– alcohol-relapse-prevention medications; to
– bed-based treatment and supportive programs.
* Patients can be vulnerable when transitioning between services, so supports are available to keep clients connected to care and to stay safe through every step.
* Recovery does not end after treatment.
* Road to Recovery will help connect people to community after-care supports like day programs, life-skills classes and peer- recovery groups to help them stay on their path to wellness.
