Addiction-treatment facility to house youths overnight
Addiction coupled with the threat of COVID-19 is a “nightmare” for some.
That’s why Calgary’s Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre is now operating as a residential treatment centre — where clients reside overnight — to protect youth battling addiction and, by extension, the community at large.
Dean Vause, executive director of AARC, said sending clients home during the COVID-19 outbreak is too great a risk to an already vulnerable population and those around them.
“It would be easy to just shut down and send them home, but you’re talking about kids’ lives and community safety,” said Vause. “We’re in crisis mode and we are doing everything under the sun to protect them.”
AARC began operations as a residential treatment centre on Monday. Staff now work 24-7, recovery homes are temporarily closed and all non-essential staff, visitors and alumni are barred from visiting the facility. The centre is currently housing 11 clients.
The program, which serves 12to 21-year-olds who are diagnosed with substance-use disorder, was previously semi-residential. Clients would spend the majority of their day at the centre and then spend the night at homes of client families further along in the program, called recovery homes.
Vause said taking away access to these homes will affect the quality of treatment, considering it was one of the most helpful components of the program. But it’s better than the alternative.
He said sending clients back to their families would be a “nightmare” for people who are not trained, nor prepared, to support children dealing with drug addiction.
“That’s the terror of our parents — and it is terror — that their kids would come home ill and they couldn’t handle them,” he said. “The kids are seriously addicted. Their first priority if they go out of there and aren’t treated is to go use drugs, to go out and find drugs, and they’ll be desperate.”
The risk of harm is then intensified with COVID-19, as clients could, for example, share needles or engage in high-risk behaviour.
Despite AARC’S best efforts, however, it’s unclear whether they’ll be able to operate this way for long.
Due to COVID -19, the centre has been forced to cancel a large fundraising event and has incurred unforeseen costs related to increased clinical staff, additional nursing and chef shifts, and supplies. It is costing AARC approximately $5,500 more per week to operate.
“We’re draining any reserves we have,” said Vause. “We’re like everybody else asking how long this is going to last. Can we stay in the battle long enough that we have a chance once this dissipates somewhat?”
Right now, Vause said they are taking it day by day.
“My goal is to make payroll this month,” he said. “We’re asking the community for help to keep our doors open. We’ll do our job. My staff has gone above and beyond and even at risk to their health. We are caregivers on the front line.”
Vause said by the “grace of God” they haven’t had a COVID-19 diagnosis but are operating with extreme caution. All staff must undergo tests when entering the centre and must self-isolate if they experience any symptoms or come in contact with someone who has tested positive.