A successful addictions treatment program located in Kamsack is getting a new home and increased resources.
The Sunrise Health Region has relocated the methadone clinic to the Kamsack Hospital and has hired a full time mental health and addictions nurse to augment the services of the physician and addictions worker.
Methadone is a central nervous system depressant which helps lessen withdrawals and reduces cravings for persons attempting to recover from addiction to opiate drugs. This allows the person to live a normal life, work, and to begin to make better decisions.
Methadone must be prescribed and carefully dosed by a licensed physician and only works for opiate addictions. Methadone does not produce a "high" and is dangerous to take without physician supervised care.
"The clients who attend the methadone clinic are committed to treatment for their opiate addiction," says Christopher Bohun, Manager of Mental Health & Addictions for Sunrise Health Region.
"The clinic has already benefited in many ways the clients and the community, and the health region is pleased that we are able to increase our supports."
Clients of the Kamsack Methadone Clinic are required to check-in, participate in mandatory drug screening at each session, meet with the Mental Health and Addictions nurse for screening, and then meet with the physician and Addictions Counselor for further medical or counseling assistance as indicated during the screening.
Clients must follow the strict expectations for methadone-assisted recovery in order to stay in the program.
Persons in the addictions recovery program are no longer drug-seeking and the hospital has noticed a decline in the number of people presenting to the emergency room with drug related injuries or overdoses.
"The move to the Kamsack Hospital is positive for the program and for the community," says Bohun.
"There is room in the hospital without displacing or interfering with patient flow through to any other service, and the laboratory supports are in the hospital."
The clinic was transferred from the Kamsack Medical Clinic to the Kamsack Hospital on September 1.
The move has the added benefit of freeing space for a physician that the local recruitment committee hopes to soon recruit to the community.
