Pubdate: Wed, 21 Dec 2005 Source: Parry Sound North Star (CN ON) Copyright: 2005, Parry Sound North Star Contact: http://www.parrysoundnorthstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1618 Author: Stephannie Johnson Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) HART DETOX PLAN PARRY SOUND - It has been just seven months since Helping Addicts Restore Themselves (HART) was formed, but already this group of strong-willed and determined mothers and board members is working hard to get a detox centre opened here in Parry Sound. The closest detox centres are in Barrie, Sudbury and North Bay. A detox centre is usually in a facility near or inside a hospital, with a relatively home-like setting. The clients are watched while the drugs are getting out of their system, so that if they suffer a seizure or have any other problems they they can quickly get to a hospital. Before a detox centre can be available in the region, the HART group has to hire a consultant to conduct a statistical study, a needs assessment and a feasibility plan at a cost of $5,000, which HART doesn't have. The group met with the Community Business and Development Centre (CB&DC) to see if it could lend them the money. CB&DC helps small businesses and groups by providing them loans, equity and loan guarantees. However, the money isn't just handed over on request. Like other groups and businesses, HART has to compile letters of support for a detox centre from community groups, the public and businesses, as well as a proposal for how the money will be used. "What's interesting is that not every agency in town responded to the fact that we need a letter of support and that really shocked me," said HART chair Gail MacDonald. Nonetheless, in two weeks the group has received letters of support from Parry Sound Mayor Ted Knight, Lane Family Pharmacy, Parry Sound High School, Britt School, McDougall School, Nobel School, Shoppers Drug Mart, Addiction Outreach, Pollard IDA Pharmacy, Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Norm Miller, Conservative candidate Tony Clement and Esprit Place. Two weeks ago the group met with West Parry Sound Health Centre (WPSHC) grants officer John Lee who will help them, when the statistical study is complete, to seek provincial and federal funding to open a facility. "There are a number of steps that have to take place," said Mr. Lee. "Once we have a feasibility and a needs assessment, we look at the provincial government and the federal government to submit that to. That is part of the application for additional funding, because the governments will want to see what we've done. The CB&DC administers the local initiative program funding for the community on behalf of FedNor." "Cost will depend on whether you're looking at a new building or not. If you can have it affixed or very close to the hospital that would be ideal," Mr.Lee said. said. "To build a new facility, it could cost between $100,000 and $300,000, and if it's inside an existing facility, probably between $20,000 and $80,000 depending on how you want to start out." Despite this being early in the process of getting the centre, all of HART's board members feel positive that they will get the funding. "We've now been putting our focus on preventive things. A detox centre was really important to us right from the beginning," said Ms MacDonald. "I think where we're at is making this district responsible--because it is a district-wide issue--for our sick people. If they had diabetes, they wouldn't be asked to drive to Barrie for immediate help. But because they have addiction problems, something that isn't socially acceptable, they're just cast aside. I think somebody needs to be an advocate for these people." Mr. Lee said that if all goes well, the region could see a detox centre here as early as the spring. "If we get the approval to hire a consultant in January, then within a few weeks we should have a document and by February/March we should be doing outreach to get the funds necessary to get the detox centre," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom