Sault residential withdrawal management facility gets a name, on track for summer opening
Sault Ste. Marie's new residential withdrawal management & safe beds facility now has a name. It will be called Northway Wellness Centre, and officials at Sault Area Hospital (SAH) say construction is on track for a summer opening.
"We are expecting late summer," said Lisa Case, Clinical Director of the Mental Health & Addictions Program at SAF.
"We are waiting on two really important pieces of equipment, including our air handling equipment and our generator."
Case said once the facility is completed, patients will have access to a variety of services from healthcare professionals such as nurses, addictions services workers, social workers and physicians.
"If they're acutely intoxicated or in acute withdrawal, we'll be able to support them both psychosocially with what supports they need, as well as with medication support, symptom management, things that would historically bring them to the emergency department or to continue using," Case said.
- Download the CTV News app now and get local alerts on your device
- Get local breaking news and updates sent to your email inbox
Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano said the withdrawal management site and the live-in youth treatment program unveiled earlier in the week are the results of consistent lobbying for addiction support services.
"It's important that we make sure that everyone who is dealing through trauma, dealing through a crisis, is having a problem with mental health and addiction knows that there is help out there for them,” said Romano.
“There is help in their community and we need to steer them towards that help on their path to wellness."
Meantime, Save Our Young Adults (SOYA)’s founder Connie Raynor-Elliott said while the addiction and mental health crisis still grips the city, she's confident the situation will improve with these new supports in place.
"Once the ribbons are cut, you'll see the progress," said Raynor-Elliott.
"Things are happening and I'm really impressed."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
2 dead, third in critical condition after attack in Kingston, Ont., suspect arrested
Two people are dead and a third suffered life-threatening injuries following an attack at an encampment in Kingston, Ont., Thursday. A suspect has been arrested following a multi-hour standoff.
B.C. will scrap carbon tax if feds remove requirement: Eby
British Columbia's premier says the province will end the consumer carbon tax if the federal government removes the legal requirement to have one.
Actor Chad McQueen, son of Steve McQueen, dies at 63
Chad McQueen, an actor known for his performances in the 'Karate Kid' movies and the son of the late actor and race car driver Steve McQueen, has died. He was 63.
Family of Sikh man speaks out against Toronto-area hospital after beard shaved
The family of a Sikh man from Brampton is seeking an apology, an explanation, and a promise to do better from the local hospital network after they say the facial hair of their loved one was removed without their consent.
Ottawa resident who tested positive for mosquito-borne virus dies, public health says
An Ottawa resident who died of a viral encephalitis this summer tested positive for the mosquito-borne virus eastern equine encephalitis (EEEV), the first human case of the virus in Ottawa.
Trump rules out another debate against Harris as her campaign announces US$47M haul in hours afterward
Donald Trump on Thursday ruled out another presidential debate against Kamala Harris as her campaign announced a massive fundraising haul in the hours after the two candidates met on stage.
'Keep your bags packed': Consul general grilled over $9M NYC condo purchase
After weeks of pressure, Canada's consul general Tom Clark is testifying on Thursday before a House of Commons committee about the purchase of his new official residence in New York that generated a lot of political attention over the summer.
N.B. premier's asylum seeker comments spark controversy
Claims from New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs that Ottawa wants to force the province to take in 4,600 asylum seekers are 'largely fictitious,' says federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller.
TIFF pauses screenings of documentary about Russian soldiers due to 'significant threats'
The Toronto Film Festival says it has been forced to pause the screenings of a documentary about Russian soldiers this weekend, citing 'significant threats to festival operations and public safety.'