Connect  |  Newsletter  |  Donate

Rally tomorrow to keep 29-bed addiction treatment hospital program open

Posted: February 28, 2020

(February 27, 2020)

By: BayToday Staff, BayToday

20200210 mental health clinic king st 1 turl

The North Bay Regional Hospital’s mental health and addictions clinic on King St. Jeff Turl/BayToday.

The Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) is organizing a rally tomorrow at noon to keep a 29-bed addiction treatment hospital program open.

The rally will take place at MPP Vic Fedeli’s office, at 219 Main Street East.

See: Local in-hospital addiction treatment program has strong public support: CUPE poll

“When we compare addiction rates in southern Ontario, addiction rates in northeastern Ontario are higher,” says a news release from the group.

“According to the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, overdose-related hospital emergency room visits between 2016 and 2019 have gone up. In 2016 there were 39 overdose emergency department visits. That number jumped to 105 in 2018 and 114 in 2019. Most of those overdosing are younger adults between 25-44 years old.”

Recently the North Bay Regional Health Centre announced that it would be operating a 16-bed residential program in the community.

See: Mental health and addiction reorganization saves 30 local jobs

Read the original article here