‘Sad’ St. John, NB, Addiction Treatment Center Ready for Upgrade – New Brunswick | Globalnews.ca

Units manufactured 75 years ago Ridgewood Addiction Services St. John’s is full of rusted holes, chipped paint and shabby windows – and that’s only the exterior.

However, the aging facility is set to receive $3.8 million in renovations and upgrades through a joint investment by Horizon Health Network and the St. John Regional Hospital Foundation, the provincial government announced on Monday.

Each stakeholder has committed to contribute $1.27 million.

Health Minister Bruce Fitch allowed his predecessor, Social Development Minister Dorothy Shepherd to announce the funding, saying he worked hard to create it.

In her first announcement since she was removed from the health file, Shepherd said, “It is this kind of partnership between levels of government and the community that can bring much needed change and better services to support those who need it.” Is.”

The fund will overhaul three facilities currently used to deliver critical detoxification and rehabilitation programs. Currently, customers using these services are forced to live in shared space or pod systems.

“The feedback I have received from my colleagues has consistently pointed out that the physical environment is not welcoming and the building is in poor condition and that makes them feel less than adequate,” Fitch said.

Once refurbished, the buildings will be modernized, including private rooms and medical rooms, according to Horizon Health Network vice president community Jean Daigle.

In a regular month, 50 clients are admitted to the withdrawal unit for various reasons, including alcohol addiction, opium dependence and gambling.

“I think we are hearing very clearly from our patients and families that there is no debate about the quality of the service they are receiving from a medical standpoint, but certainly the state of the building, it remains to be desired. Quits a lot,” Daigle said.

He later said that he plans to demolish the buildings from the foundations before modeling the next structures.

When asked whether future upgrades will be required to other features on the property, Daigle said the newly announced upgrade is a good start, and he hopes it will pave the way for more investments in the future.

The investment will also enhance clinical service delivery within the rehabilitation unit, transitioning from a 28-day, addiction-focused, residential service to live-in, concurrent disorder treatment in 35 to 90 days.

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