Premier David Eby and Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside (file photo/Province of B.C./Flickr

By Liam Verster

expanded access

New addiction recovery beds open in Vernon

Jan 25, 2024 | 2:45 PM

People seeking addiction treatment in Vernon have more opportunities.

The province opened 97 new recovery treatment beds in B.C. this month, 15 of which are located at Bill’s Place in Vernon, operated by Turning Points Collaborative Society.

“Turning Point Recovery Society has provided addiction recovery services to over 400 individuals [in B.C.] through the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions – CMHA grant funding awarded to us in 2021,” Brenda Plant, executive director of Turning Point Recovery Society, said.

“This latest investment of funding reinforces the province’s commitment to address the urgent needs of individuals in need of bed-based addiction recovery services. These additional treatment beds will provide individuals with the opportunity to embark on a transformative journey toward a healthier life.”

The local beds are among 81 that have been converted from private pay to non-health authority funded.

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Other new beds opened in the region include 12 in Kelowna’s Karis Support Society, five at the Three Oaks facility in Kelowna; 23 at Red Road Recovery in Sorrento; and six at Penticton’s Discovery House/Wade Street. These are all converted beds as well.

“When people take the courageous step to reach out for help, they need to be met with the right care at the right time, close to home,” Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, said.

“By expanding access to addiction treatment beds across the province, we are providing more options, closer to home, to the lifesaving care that people need on their recovery journey.”

The beds opened this month are part of 180 the province plans to open in 2024.

“People need to be able to access treatment and recovery services close to where they live, without worrying about how to pay for it,” Premier David Eby, said.

“This expansion nearly doubles the number of publicly funded treatment and recovery beds that we committed to, so people get the care and treatment they need, no matter how many times it takes.”

The other beds are expected to open in the summer, though details on the exact timeline and locations were not disclosed.

A provincial investment of $73 million over three years is funding these beds. The investment is also extending the operations of 105 existing Canadian Mental Health Association-administered beds to the end of 2027.