![]() ![]() The opioid agonist therapy program works through a nurse prescriber program and has 177 unique individuals across the South Okanagan, according to Interior Health. “Depending on need, clients may receive low-barrier harm reduction services, counselling readiness, counselling services, case management and other treatment services such as opioid agonist therapy, intensive treatment, day treatment or referral to bed-based services,” said IH. ![]() That program sees a dedicated addictions medicine physician work with staff at the hospital and with Interior Health’s substance use connections team to arrange care in the community if necessary after people are discharged.Īccording to IH, it is currently seeing 490 active clients across South Okanagan who are getting counselling or case services for substance as of July 10. That has been expanded to a full five-days-a-week program. One example provided was a 2022 trial of an addictions medicine consult service for admitted patients at Penticton Regional Hospital. Those services have expanded since cutting Pathways funding, according to Interior Health, with more substance use services across the South Okanagan. “Interior Health’s priority remains ensuring all individuals can access mental health substance use counselling services in Penticton and across the South Okanagan as well as connect to the wide range of other services we provide,” said IH. In a response to questions from the Penticton Western News, IH stated that it is prepared to take on any individuals accessing services from Pathways with the support they need. READ MORE: Penticton’s Pathways Addiction Resource Centre to close The announcement also encouraged people to reach out to Interior Health for help, or to other community organizations such as SOWINS, Discovery House and OneSky Community Resources. “We believe that the loss of Pathways will create a large gap in the substance use disorder services available in this community,” said Ure. In the announcement, Pathways’ board chair Sherry Ure expressed concern about the loss of the centre’s services. Two years after Interior Health (IH) cut its funding for Pathways, the centre announced July 7 that community support was not enough to keep running. With Pathways Addiction Resource Centre set to officially close at the end of July, Interior Health has stated that it is ready to take on anyone who hasn’t already shifted over. ![]()
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