Provincial funding has drug recovery sites 'running on fumes' in Kamloops

The provincial government's going rate for drug treatment beds is just enough to keep the doors open, with some programs running at a loss. Some Kamloops non-profits are looking to the province to bump up regular funding for treatment programs in order to keep up with rising costs. "Any organization just trying to provide quality recovery and treatment services with simply the per diem rate is literally running on fumes," ASK Wellness CEO Bob Hughes said. There are currently 72 treatment beds in the city run by multiple service providers. Ask Wellness has 42 beds at Maverick Manor. Together with the City of Kamloops, the non-profits are looking to the provincial Ministry of Mental Health to increase the daily funding rate of $35.90 per bed. The city said it also has the support of Interior Health and Tk'emlups te Secwepemc. The current funding is "prohibitive" for some organizations, making it difficult to expand programs recovery programs. The group of non-profits meet regularly with staff at city hall meet regularly as part of the Kamloops Recovery Engagement and Bed Utilization Committee. Urging the province to increase the per diem rate is its first effort at advocating as a collective and Hughes said the group will also help move people into treatment more efficiently as the organizations meet on a routine basis. "Every bed counts," he said. "If one program's got full beds and another doesn't, then let's make sure we can move people through the programs we have." There are currently more than 300 supportive housing beds in Kamloops. While those also have services for drug users, there are only 72 beds in abstinence-based programs, Hughes said. In none of the groups' letters to the ministry was a new daily rate mentioned, but Hughes said an increase to $45 has been "floated" among the group. He wouldn't say exactly how much the group is seeking from the province. To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry mailto:llandry@infonews.ca  or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .