Men say they were denied service at detox centre

Two Saskatchewan men say they were unfairly kicked out of a publicly funded detox centre where they were seeking help.

Jeff Brown says he entered Wakamow Manor Social Detox Centre in Moose Jaw in October after hitting rock bottom from alcoholism.

The government pays the Thunder Creek Rehabilitation Association to operate the 20-bed facility.

Brown, 42, says about two days in, he was told there was an issue: His health card was invalid and he needed to leave. Brown said he managed to stay sober for 22 days, but went back to alcohol.

Emails obtained by The Canadian Press show a Saskatchewan Health Authority official says the facility has since been instructed that no one should be turned away due to an invalid or out-of-province health card.

After his first attempt, Brown entered a different detox program and is sober.

Dustin Morin wasn’t as fortunate. The former gang member and meth user said he felt like a failure after he was kicked out of Wakamow in mid- October.

He went back to using drugs. Now he’s on remand for charges related to firearm possession and evading police.

Morin, 29, said he went to detox after his daughter was born. It was the first time he ever felt motivated to kick his seven-year meth addiction, he said. After being admitted, he said, he learned a former girlfriend was also in treatment at the facility.

The facility is gender neutral, but Morin disclosed the past relationship to staff. He said they returned five minutes later to tell him she was there first, so he needed to leave and come back another time.

Morin has since filed his own human rights complaint.

Jocelyn Macleod, the facility’s program manager, said whether exes can detox together depends on whether either feels uncomfortable, so an incoming resident could be asked to leave.

Macleod said Wakamow is committed to improving. A document is being drafted to direct staff to question incoming residents on whether they know other clients or are there with a former spouse or drug dealer, which could compromise their experience.