“We offer them the menu and if they only pick a couple things and leave, but felt supported and connected, maybe the next time they come they’ll pick a few more items. It’s their journey. We walk alongside them in terms of supporting them through this and where they’re at,” said Daryl Hansen, an MHRC addiction counsellor.
When clients have had a measure of success in one aspect of addiction, it may be an encouragement to pursue more, said Hansen, who primarily works with residential clients. Even if they left detox early because it was too painful they have gained an understanding of the supports available and caring staff. There is a really good chance they may return.
Offering detox and residential services under one roof at MHRC is significant and has huge benefits, say staff members.
“I really feel our clients learn from one another,” said Bluekens.
Those contemplating detox see people who have already done so and find it inspirational, said Bluekens. They can see some of the things they can get back in their own life like laughter, family and employment.
“Some of that seems so unaccomplishable when your disease is at its head and makes life so unmanageable,” said Bluekens.
Those in a residential program are reminded how far they’ve come and what they’ve been able to accomplish, she said.
At the start of every four-week residential program, a counsellor assesses the needs and goals of participants. On Day 1, they start working on relapse prevention and discharge planning.
“We help them to start to believe in the power of change so they can choose to live life differently,” said Hansen.
During their stay, clients become part of the MHRC community, eating together, relaxing and participating in leisure pursuits. Even the regular routine of getting up and going to bed at the same time can be a new skill to learn.
Treatment consists of psycho educational workshops about life skills, communicating effectively, how to deal with stress, and emotions. They learn to identify their triggers and high-risk situations.
“Often with addictions their emotions have become numb and shut down,” said Hansen. “They learn to give themselves permission to feel again.”
For people who have never battled an addiction to drugs or alcohol it may seem as though all it takes to be successful is willpower. Many people struggle with an addiction to food, sugar or tobacco and in spite of their best intentions, fail to overcome them.
Hansen says it’s similar in the sense that once you’ve had that experience it triggers receptors and dopamine levels in the brain. They want that feeling of euphoria again.
“These clients have really deadened their ability psychologically to feel. When you feel joy and excitement from an experience ... they don’t have that,” said Debbie Vass, MHRC manager. “From a medical point of view the only way they can ‘feel’ that joy, they have to relearn how to live in this world and experience happiness again.”❚
Clients battle stigma in society “This is a disease, a chronic disease, not a character flaw,” said Vass.
Going though a program may take a few weeks but the recovery journey lasts a lifetime, said Bluekins.
The initial contact someone makes with MHRC is often a telephone call.
Staff try to determine the person’s immediate needs and what triggered the call. Their diet, where their income is coming from, whether children and family services are involved, and if they are being forced into the program by parents or an employer who has given an ultimatum. The answers determine what help is required, said Bluekins.
Many of the calls are from people in crisis. There may be a host of issues in the person’s life and it may be best to address issues, such as safe housing, before detoxing, said Vass. A safe place to live may be the priority and will put the client in a better position to begin detoxing.
If MHRC can’t provide what is needed, it makes connections to places such as the hospital's emergency department and the crisis team there, a family physician, and housing workers.
“We like to say no call is ever an empty call,” said Bluekens.
Many people have been helped since the Medicine Hat Recovery Centre (MHRC) opened a year ago
Between April 1, 2016 and Jan. 31, 2017 there were 595 admissions to detox and 163 admissions to residential treatment.
MHRC is considered a hub for addiction services, taking phone calls 24/7, directing people to the most appropriate services. It also takes people from across the province.
You can telephone MHRC, 403-529-9021, to make an appointment so they can put aside enough time to discuss your needs fully.
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The reception area at the Medicine Hat Detox facility.
Sarah Hennings, a nurse at the Medicine Hat Detox Centre, works at the client intake area.
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100 Chinook Place 623 - 4th St. S.E., Downtown 403-526-3283
Staff at Medicine Hat Recovery Centre chat in the main entrance. From the left are: Daryl Hansen addiction counselor, Debbie Vass manager, Chelsey Bluekens client care assistant and Kelly Ryan RN.
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