Pubdate: Fri, 10 Dec 2004 Source: Hamilton Mountain News (CN ON) Copyright: 2004 Brabant Newspapers Contact: http://www.hamiltonmountainnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3415 Author: Abigail Cukier NEW SERVICE FOR WOMEN ADDICTED TO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS IS FIRST OF ITS KIND Womankind Addiction Service, which opened in Hamilton recently, is the first of its kind in Ontario providing support for women addicted to alcohol or drugs through the whole course of recovery. "Usually women have to go somewhere for withdrawal, somewhere else for treament and somewhere else for after-care," said Debbie Bang, manager of Womankind. "They have to go here and there and sometimes with a stroller and diaper bag. It's no wonder they can't make it. "This is a blending of services. A one-stop shop." Last year, 600 women contacted the women's treatment facilities, representing a 200 per cent increase over the last four years. This 24-bed facility is an amalgamation of Women's Detox and Mary Ellis House, which will be able to provide treatment for an additional 340 women each year. Mary Ellis House, which was on Bold Street, had eight beds and Women's Detox, run by St. Joseph's Healthcare, had seven beds. The hospital will either sell the site on Rosslyn Avenue or use it for other programming. Womankind plans to start engaging women before they even formally seek out addiction treatment. "It will be a place where they can come and do laundry and meet other women. They will start to recognize it as a safe place," Ms. Bang said. "It's very scary if you're alone, especially if you have children, to tell someone you have an addiction." Women can enter the centre for withdrawal management. Those who are well enough participate in daily groups, which focus on early recovery education, relapse prevention and recovery planning. Women who would like to seek treatment are assessed and appropriate treatment and discharge plans are made. The centre will offer pre-treatment, where women can set goals and plan for recovery. The first of Womankind's five-week community treatment sessions, where woman can go home at night, began this Monday. A one-to-two week after-care program will help clients see what is working and where change is needed. Another program moving into the facility is New Choices, which was run out of Melrose Church. New Choices provides treatment for pregnant women or mothers with children under six. Services include assessment, treatment and referral and both individual and group counselling. Women also receive prenatal and postnatal education and children participate in therapeutic play programs that promote physical, social and emotional development. Ms. Bang said concerns about child care often deter women from seeking help. Being able to bring children on-site for helpful progams can motivate women to seek treatment. Greenspace and trees, exercise programs and support groups, will help to make the site at 431 Whitney Ave. especially welcoming. A few times a year, the centre will also hold weekend retreats. Volunteers and alumni will visit the centre regularly to share their skills and offer support. One such volunteer is May Ferguson, chair of the Womankind advisory committee, who has helped see the centre through to fruition. She has been involved since 1991, when the idea for Womankind was first introduced. Due to logistical and funding issues, the centre was a long time coming. Ms. Ferguson said women-only centres are necessary to give women a safe place to share with their peers. Because women tend to nurture men, their own needs sometimes get lost in a co-ed setting. There are three women's only detox centres in Ontario. "Women are dying because they're not getting the help they need," she said. "We want to reach all these women. I don't believe there is one family who has not been touched by this."