Twenty new substance-use treatment beds coming to Kamloops

KAMLOOPS — New treatment and recovery supports are coming to Kamloops to help individuals dealing with alcohol and substance-use challenges.

In partnership with Interior Health, the province is expanding addiction care services by adding 35 new beds, including 20 treatment beds, 14 transition and stabilization beds.

Twenty of the new beds will be coming to the Kamloops community and the ‘A New Tomorrow Treatment Solutions’ building in Brocklehurst. The beds will provide safe places where people can connect to life-saving services and supports.

“In Kamloops we actually haven’t had any funded beds for recovery orientated systems of care, it is a none gap both in our community and province-wide. There is another treatment centre here in Kamloops that does a great job but these beds will be funded, which I think is a real barrier for people seeking treatment,” said A New Tomorrow Medical Director Dr. Mandy Manak.

The program has been in the works for Dr. Manak for multiple years, and the addictions specialist physician is happy to finally see that dream become a reality later this year. The treatment centre is expected to open in October of this year with a full complement of staff and clients.

“Those seeds that we had planted years ago, kind of blossoming, but today it makes it really seem like it’s here. There is a lot of renovations going on, so we have been working behind the scenes. I know there was a question about the delay in opening until the fall, the renos are going to take a while. And then we are going to be able to accept applications at the beginning of October. We can’t wait to see our first patient,” added Manak.

The other funded treatment beds will be located in Kelowna, Lillooet and Williams Lake.