Campbell River detox facility set to open next summer

The facility was originally supposed to open in November 2024.

A six-bed detox facility in Campbell River that’s two years behind schedule is expected to open next summer. In March 2024, the province announced that after an “extensive search,” it had secured a renovated house on Nicholls Road near Campbell River & District Hospital for a withdrawal management clinic. It planned to open in November that same year.

In announcing the facility, then Mental Health and Addictions minister Jennifer Whiteside said “when people make the brave decision to seek help for addiction challenges, often the first step is accessing detox services.” Then the project went silent. Despite the delay, it’s still projected to be Island Health’s first community-based medical detox facility north of Nanaimo.

The nearest facility for Campbell River and north Island residents now is Clearview Medical Detox in Nanaimo. Island Health said in a statement that the renovation work involved “some challenges and delays” in planning and design. It said B.C. Housing is leading the renovation and design planning for the facility.

“We understand the updated designs and plans — a process that was necessary to decrease costs based on initial designs — are now complete and B.C Housing’s next step is to apply for necessary permits and secure a contractor to lead construction,” said the health authority. B.C. Housing said it expects a contractor to be selected this summer, with construction scheduled to start by this winter, pending building permit approvals through the municipality. The health authority operates 34 adult and youth detox or withdrawal management beds, all of which are open to any resident of the area served by Island Health.

Until the new facility is completed, Island Health said it has implemented a transportation service for people who want to access substance-use treatment services. That access is arranged via the Access Central 24-7 phone line announced this year. The phone line can connect clients to a clinic for an in-person assessment and substance-use care plan that offers same or next-day clinical screening and assessment, placement in a withdrawal management/detox bed according to medical need, and rapid connection to outpatient services, according to Island Health.

The substance-use care plan can include opioid agonist therapy — slow-acting medications such as methadone, Suboxone and Kadian — to prevent withdrawal and reduce cravings, or medications that reduce cravings for alcohol use. Detox facilities offer medical care and oversight in a secure environment for those withdrawing from use of alcohol and drugs, and can be a step toward recovery and treatment, Island Health said. The health authority said many individuals undergoing detox do not need to be admitted to a hospital, but do need support and medical supervision.

Once open, the detox facility in Campbell River will be staffed around the clock, seven days a week, with oversight by physicians and nurses. It’s modelled on the Clearview Detox Centre in Nanaimo, which has been operating since 2009 in a residential neighbourhood. The Campbell River detox centre will offer stays averaging three to 10 days, followed by a co-ordinated transfer to other supports in the community or at home, with transportation to and from the detox service provided if required.

The facility is part of B.C.’s Road to Recovery model, which aims to offer seamless services through each stage of detox and recovery and after-care.