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Ahead of council’s decision, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s plan to open a residential withdrawal management unit has gained the support of the area’s board of health.
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Members of the board voted unanimously to send a letter asking council to approve the hospital organization’s request of $500,000 towards the renovations needed to open the unit. April Rietdyk, the municipality’s general manager of community human services, also announced she will recommend council allocate the money from reserves.
Rietdyk said there is an “addiction crisis” that spans the whole country, and Chatham-Kent is one of the only communities in Southwestern Ontario without its own residential withdrawal management program.
“It is something that we have to come together as a community to really address and to assist our citizens as they begin that journey to come out and tackle their addictions,” she said during the Jan. 19 meeting.
The Health Alliance still needs approval from Ontario Health, which would provide the operating costs. Hospital officials have said they expect to have an answer by the end of March.
The total cost of the renovations is pegged at $1.2 million and the unit would be located at the Chatham hospital. The unit would have 10 beds and operate around the clock with access to outpatient services.
Rietdyk said it’s a barrier for someone dealing with an addiction to leave the community for a residential withdrawal management program.
“That’s really hard to ask someone to do who is really battling their addiction issues,” she said. “They do share with us that if we had a program locally, they could really see themselves moving forward and tackling their addictions in a much better way.”
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Dr. David Colby, Chatham-Kent’s medical officer of health, said “the drug situation that we are dealing with is the second pandemic.
“I didn’t coin that phrase, but it’s accurate. Not only is this a great idea and a positive step forward for Chatham-Kent, I believe it is … absolutely essential.”
Rietdyk said she will present data on drug misuse in Chatham-Kent to council during budget deliberations. If approved, the $500,000 from the municipality would be given on a one-time basis.
“Our deaths from drug misuse are certainly increasing very dramatically in our community,” Rietdyk said. “I just think every death, if we can avoid that, is certainly some dollars well spent.”
-With files from Trevor Terfloth