New Centre for Addictions Care Opening in Dartmouth

A new service for people struggling with substance use and gambling addictions will open in Dartmouth next week.

The recovery support centre will be the first local hub for adults requiring less intensive withdrawal management support. Services will include in-person assessments, group programming, and recovery and harm reduction supports. On-site withdrawal support and one-on-one programming will be added in the coming months.

Recovery support centres are also expected to open over the next two years in Truro, Cape Breton and Halifax.

“We need to do better by those living with addictions,” said Brian Comer, Minister responsible for the Office of Addictions and Mental Health. “This includes enhancing supports and creating better access to the right level of care. This new centre will provide support to those who don’t require around-the-clock inpatient care and can safely and successfully recover from addictions while remaining at home and in their community.”

The centre will also function as a community hub, linking people to care based on their individual needs, such as more intensive in-hospital withdrawal care, opioid-use disorder treatment, and community mental health and addictions programs. It will also provide support for some patients discharged from in-hospital withdrawal care.

The centre opens Tuesday, January 25. People can access supports and services by visiting the centre at 45 Alderney Drive, calling the centre directly at 902-425-3439, or by calling the Mental Health and Addictions Intake Service at 1-855-922-1122. Referrals will also come through family physicians, emergency departments and community mental health and addiction clinics.

The recovery support centre will initially operate Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and be staffed by an interdisciplinary team, including a nurse practitioner, registered nurses, social workers and peer-support workers. The hours will be extended in the coming months as additional clinical staff are hired.

Quotes:

“The recovery support centre will provide people access to timely and safe care for substance-use disorders, enhancing the service delivery model within Nova Scotia Health. It is our hope that this service will improve treatment access, meet people where they happen to be in their recovery journey and provide service that helps address the physical, psychological, social and spiritual issues related to substance use.”

– Dr. Dave Martell, Physician Lead, Addictions Medicine, Mental Health and Addictions Program, Nova Scotia Health

Quick Facts:

• COVID-19 public health guidelines will be followed for drop-ins and scheduled appointments
• the current location is temporary, and a process to identify a permanent site is underway
• day supports for withdrawal management and substance use are currently available in Lunenburg, Yarmouth and Middleton