Youth detox wing opens at Phoenix Centre

KAMLOOPS– After years of advocating and planning, Day One Society is finally opening its youth detox wing, which includes five beds for individuals under the age of 24.

“Detox is an essential service for additions really, it’s a first step in a very long journey of recovery but it’s an essential first step,” Sian Lewis, executive director of Day One Society told CFJC News. “If people can’t withdraw from their substances in a safe and comfortable way they will never be able to take that next step.”

Prior to the opening of this wing, the Phoenix Centre could only treat one youth at a time.

“Young people at different ages and stages of development, being mixed in with adults is just not good practice for many reasons – safety, but also medically,” said Lewis. “They need different kinds of attention from the physician, from the nurses — and age-appropriate programming.”

The society estimates 15 per cent of the people coming through the centre now are considered youth.

Leann Kopytko, a former youth councillor and the program supervisor for the new wing, believes addiction in youth has always been a problem, but the opioid crisis has made the need for youth programming more evident.

“There are more and more young people who are out there experimenting, and getting into using, and also young people who are affected and impacted by other people’s usage as well,” Kopytko said.

The youth wing has five rooms, two full bathrooms and a common area.

Once operational, Kopytko believes the society will be able to offer a lot more than just a place to detox.

While the wing is ready for patients, Day One Society still needs to hire nurses before opening its doors. And with a shortage of health-care professionals, it’s been a slow process.

“As everyone knows, they are difficult to find. We are in competition with all other services in the community (and) even throughout the province,” Lewis explained.

According to the executive director, the centre has already hired two casual RNs and an LPN for the wing.

“It’s moving in the right direction. I just hope summer isn’t a slowdown and by the fall, we can see these beds open and fully functioning,” said Lewis.