It’s something St. Thomas Police Chief Chris Herridge has been calling on for some time.
In January of this year he again stressed the lack of a detox or withdrawal treatment centre in St. Thomas.
That is about to change next month, according to Don Trepanier, director at The Annex, an addictions resource centre affiliated with the Grace Cafe.
Trepanier adds the withdrawal management centre will be located in the Canadian Mental Health Association office at 110 Centre Street.
In December of last year, St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston advised he had been in discussion with then MPP Jeff Yurek on more money from the province for detox, rehab and mental crisis beds.
Trepanier tells myFM what the centre will entail.
The opening of a three-bed detox centre is the first stage in a withdrawal management program in St. Thomas and Elgin.
Trepanier says the eventual opening of a larger withdrawal management centre means area residents will not have to be sent as far away as Toronto for treatment.
He adds this will lead to the establishment of a long-term treatment program, something he says “we really need to shoot for.”
Written by Ian McCallum
