Increase in addiction referrals
A rise in addiction referrals last year prompted a ‘‘one-stop shop’’ for addiction services to expand.
Tu¯ hauora – Christchurch central Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) service – received about 1500 referrals in its second year of existence after opening in 2016. Last year, referrals rose by 25 per cent to 2200.
Minister of Health David Clark opened the new site, where services transferred late last year, on Friday.
The new building on Ferry Rd is twice as big as the former location on Washington Way.
Odyssey House Trust operates the centre under Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) and Ministry of Health contracts.
It works with other government, community and nongovernment organisation addiction services, as well as the CDHB’s specialist mental health services.
Odyssey House Trust clinical director Nigel Loughton said the cost to rent the new facility was 30 per cent more than the old one.
The trust received funding for seven extra staff to cater for the growing number of referrals.
Tu¯ hauora could offer more group and peer support for people with addictions to opioids, methamphetamines, alcohol and other substances.
The service had led to a decrease in wait times for people to access support. It usually saw people within 48 hours of referrals, Loughton said.
The increase in people needing addiction support was due to having a better service on offer and better coordination with police, GPs and other agencies, as well as a growing methamphetamine problem, he said.
The new service, based at 55-59 Ferry Rd, is open from 8.30am to
7.30pm Monday to Friday and
10am to 2pm on Saturday, with a view to increase the weekend hours.