New $18M detox centre opens in Whitehorse

The Yukon government says its new detox centre, which officially opened on Friday, will have moreprogramming and dozens more staff members than the facility it's replaced.

The new $18-million Sarah Steele building sits beside the old facility, just off Sixth Avenue in downtown Whitehorse. The government said last year that the old building,which wasbuilt in 1961, hadout-lived its usefulness.

Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloski says the building is a wise investment.

"We can reduce interactions with the RCMP,with the courts, reducing ambulances and seeing fewer families without parents, if they're struggling with addictions and not looking after their kids. So I think this is one of those investments that is going to pay off in many respects. I am very excited and proud about it."

The government says the new facility will offer enhanced programming, including new youth addictions services. Thirty-two new staff have been hired to provide theprogramming, including counselling services andtwo live-in "intensive treatment programs", one for men and one for women.

One of the changes is the length of patient treatment.

Mike Nixon, Yukon's Minister of Health, said 28-day programs are being replaced by new programs with stays lasting from 30 to 90 days.

Nixon says the new facility will offer more emphasis on mental health and trauma support.

"We know that many individuals who struggle with alcohol or drug use have suffered from earlier trauma in their lives, including violence in the family or community orsexual abuse.In order to thrive in their lives, we need to take a holistic approach," he said.

The new building can accommodateup to 50 clientsat a time, divided between in-patient residential treatment and detox beds.That's more than twice the old building's capacity.

It includes 18 withdrawl or detox beds (14 for adults,4 for youth) and 20 beds for in-patient treatment.

There are also fouryouth treatment bedsand eight beds which are used as transition bedsfor people who are either awaiting treatment or needextra support after completing a treatment program.

Peter Johnston, the grand chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations, was also at Friday's official opening. He said the new building incorporates Indigenouscultureand is very welcoming.

Johnston said it's unfortunate that manypeople in need ofdetox services are Aboriginal.

"It's important that we as Aboriginal people put our presence into facilities like this so it's more inviting, and more importantly, so the success is more likely to happen."

Clients won't be in the new building until next month. The government says a "staged opening" will begin on Oct. 3, after staff have been trained and furniture installed. The old building will ultimately be demolished.