In Canada studies have been conducted by CCSA, The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, which relay the following rather alarming facts regarding addiction to drugs or alcohol. Approximately 30,000 or 3.2% of Nova Scotians are binge drinkers, who regularly consume a harmful amount of alcohol and are dependant on alcohol. The same studies indicate that 0.6% or 5,500 Nova Scotians are dependant on illicit drugs.
In Nova Scotia someone in need of immediate help with his/her addiction can be admitted to a local area detox facility with as little as a one or two day waiting period. This stay usually lasts between three and seven days. This solution only provides up to a one week’s reprieve from a life long problem. In order to be admitted to one of the government sponsored residential programs one must first appear in person to have an assessment done and then be recommended to one of the facilities where there is an average of a two to four week waiting list, and one must have been abstinent from all drugs and alcohol for at least one week to be admitted.
If one were in need of long-term rehabilitation he/she could be admitted to a halfway house or Salvation Army program in as little as one to two weeks but these are not rehabilitation programs. Rather, it is a sober living environment that has certain requirements: its occupants must be sober and attend alcoholics anonymous or narcotics anonymous meetings and undergo other types of ongoing therapy as well as seek out employment. It is a reintegration program rather than a rehabilitative program in a controlled environment.
In summary, there are approximately 35,000 Nova Scotians in need of detoxification, intervention, and drug rehab or alcohol rehab programs, coupled with ongoing after care. There are a total of 3 Detox facilities and an additional 16 residential facilities each of which can accommodate approximately 40 addicts bringing the total number of available Government funded beds to approximately 640 beds to be divided amongst the 20,000 that need treatment. Of the 23 facilities located in Nova Scotia, 14 are out patient programs that offer very little support to alcoholics and addicts. There is scarcely enough treatment to make a serious dent in the current addiction problem plaguing this province.
All statistical info can be researched at: www.ccsa.ca/CCSA/EN/Statistics/GeneralHealthAndAddictionsStatistics.htm
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