B.C.’S First Detox Services For Indigenous Youth Coming To Island

Indigenous youth on Vancouver Island struggling with drug addiction will soon benefit from a first-of-its-kind treatment centre that will offer culturally relevant detox and treatment services.

“The toxic-drug crisis is a tragedy, one that disproportionately affects Indigenous people,” said Premier David Eby.

“Rooting treatment for addictions and mental-health issues in Indigenous knowledge has the power to transform a young person’s life. Orca Lelum Youth Wellness Centre will provide that support, and our government is proud to support such an innovative approach to help vulnerable youth.”

The Orca Lelum Youth Wellness Centre in Lantzville will be the first in the province to offer detox services, specifically for Indigenous youth.

Data suggests First Nations people in B.C. are almost six times more likely to die from illicit-drug poisoning than other people in the province.

Access to culturally appropriate, Indigenous-led, mental-health and addictions treatment is something Indigenous people have been asking for, as a way to combat increased rates of relapse, overdoses, and other related harms.

The centre will provide 20 substance-use treatment beds that offer culturally informed care to Indigenous people aged 12 to 18 years. Services will be available in phases, starting in June, as more staff get hired and trained.

The centre should be operating at full capacity by fall.

Ten of the beds will be reserved for short-term detox and stabilization, while the other 10 beds will support young people with addiction services through a 10 week, holistic live-in and culture-based healing program.

The centre will also accept drop-ins and continuous intake for the detox program, while the treatment program will operate up to four times per year.

The youth centre will employ at least 50 staff members, including medical staff, clinical counsellors, cultural workers, intake workers and wellness support staff. Orca Lelum Wellness Society is an Indigenous Child and Family Service Agency, established in 1994.

The organization offers traditional approaches to healing and growth that empower children, youth, and families on Vancouver Island.

To see the full release, visit Government of British Columbia.