Pubdate: Sat, 20 Jul 2013
Source: Standard Freeholder (Cornwall, CN ON)
Copyright: 2013 Cornwall Standard Freeholder
Contact: http://www.standard-freeholder.com/letters
Website: http://www.standard-freeholder.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1169
Author: Kathryn Burnham

HOMELESS ADDICTS

The hunt for a drug detox and rehab has sent Kim Cox searching as far
away as Windsor and Quebec - even once putting her son on a bus to
Elliot Lake in Northern Ontario - confident they wouldn't turn him
away if he just showed up on their doorstep.

The lack of a residential rehab service in Cornwall has always
frustrated Cox, and with changes coming to withdrawal management
services (the detox centre) at Cornwall Community Hospital, she is
concerned there will be even more gaps locally.

The hospital's Christine Penney, however, is confident the upcoming
changes - slated to begin Aug. 1 - will actually reach more poeple.

With an institutional facility and a residential rehabilitation
program only for males - the St. Denis centre - some demographics were
being under served, said Penney, vice-president for the hospital's
addiction and mental health programs.

Women with children, youth and the elderly often didn't feel
comfortable - or have the time - to go to 24-hour detox, she said.

So the hospital has decided to do away with the old format and move to
a community service model with the flexibility to reach those people.

The new structure will see a three-week outpatient program replace the
detox centre, connecting patients with therapists, counsellors and
social services, while giving them a place to go during the day to
meet others for group support.

But this will mean a loss of beds to remove addicts from their routine
of drug or alcohol abuse.

Yet Penney is confident that with support, many people will be able to
start the recovery process from their home, particularly as not all
addictions require a detox process.

NEW STRUCTURE

The new structure will be a more supportive program as staff will be
able to focus on giving clients the tools for recovery rather than
just focusing on giving them food and rest through the drying-out process.

There will also be four beds for short-term detox during the day for
those struggling with the effects of coming off alcohol or drugs.

(The outpatient program is not limited just to substance abuse but is
also available for problem gamblers.)

CONCERNS

Cox's son, Steve Coleman, however, is concerned that a new group of
people will fall through the cracks with the change in hours - those
who realize too late at night that they need help.

"As an addict, I can call and say I need something and if you are not
there when I call, then I can change," said Coleman.

"When I say I want to stop, at that point I want to stop. If I wait it
out, I say then it's not too bad," he said.

Cox said she is also concerned about those at home looking after their
loved one who is going through the withdrawal process - which can be
rife with sweats, screaming and swearing at times, depending on the
addiction.

"I'm on pins and needles," she said of the many times she has watched
them sweat, swear and shake while coming off the effects of cocaine,
alcohol or whatever else they were using. "It's intense."

But with the withdrawal program only open during the day, she fears
she will have nowhere to turn.

"What are you going to be doing at 11 p.m. when I can't handle it?
Will I have to call the police?"

PARENTAL SUPPORT

But the hospital is hoping its parental support program - which will
include a support group as well as individual counseling - will make
the burden easier.

The effect can be emotional, physical or financial, said Ann Zeran,
manager of addiction services.

"We assist in dealing with their own level of stress," she said. This
includes self-care and education on addictions.

"We are going to be able to provide clinets with longer periods of
time they are engaged with programs," said Penney.

* The outpatient program will be run out of the hospital's 510 Second
Street location, where patients can drop by between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Help is also a phone call away at 613-938-8506 between 8 a.m. and
midnight weekdays.

Parental support is accessible at 205 Second Street or by calling
613-936-9236
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MAP posted-by: Matt