Licencing requirement ensures quality of care in addiction treatment centres

By Justin Sibbet - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on August 9, 2024.

Herald photo by Ian Martens - A rock garden on the boulevard in front of Southern Alcare Manor treatment centre downtown features stones in memory of clients and loved-ones of clients who lost their battle with addiction.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDjsibbet@lethbridgeherald.com

One point of controversy in Lethbridge is often the location of residential addiction treatment centres, but how does one come into existence in the first place, and what benefit is there?

According to Alberta Health, under the Mental Health Services Protection Act, any organization operating a drug treatment facility in a residential building while providing overnight accommodations must have a licence.

There are, according to the Government of Alberta, five licenced treatment centres in Lethbridge, operated by four different organizations, including Alberta Health Services.

One of the licenced centres in Lethbridge is Southern Alcare Manor, located in the heart of the city for the past 49 years.

Holly Lemieux, program manager for Southern Alcare Manor, says it is important for people seeking treatment to reach out to a licenced facility rather than an alternative.

“Addiction is rampant, it’s not getting any better and to be able to have licenced facilities that are accountable and up for accreditation ensure that the quality of care is there,” said Lemieux.

She says there are different types of treatment centres, all with varying specialties, but a licence indicates the safest choices.

“That’s, I think, why it’s important to make sure that they’re licenced and they’re held accountable for their actions and the things that they’re teaching people.”

One of the ways a licenced facility is held accountable, according to Alberta Health, is by inspections. Within six months of receiving a licence, there will be an inspection of the facility with as little as two-hours notice given.

Other inspections will be conducted throughout the operation of the facility, with subsequent investigations if required. In accordance with the Mental Health Services Protection Act, licenced centres are opened to enforcement actions if they fail to abide by the laws.

“When non-compliance with the Act or regulation(s) is identified, inspectors and Alberta Health are authorized to take enforcement action. They determine the level of enforcement based on the history of the facility, the likelihood of reoccurrence and identified risk to clients.”

Some of the actions that could be taken include placing conditions on the licence, suspending the licence or revoking it entirely, effectively shutting down the operation of the centre. Other penalties include fines of up to $100,000 per day until the problem is rectified. This would happen only in severe circumstances where non-compliance persists.

Lemieux says “it is expected” all residential treatment centres maintain a staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week. She says this ensures help and supervision is always given to those managing their addictions.

“If they’re more vulnerable, they might need more care and more services available to them,” said Lemieux.

However, she says some centres, like a sober living facility, may require less supervision than other types of locations. Still, she says the problems with drug use in downtown Lethbridge are causing major issues right outside of her organization’s doors.

“Over the last few years, it certainly has because the number of overdoses and people in need has risen exponentially.”

She says her facility is nearly always full to capacity, which has 25 beds, meaning the demand for licenced centres is certainly noticeable.

To fully staff and support a facility, Lemieux says, is a significant amount of work for it includes having psychologists, administrators, cooks, coaches and more. She says the near half century her centre has been in operation has also seen its fair share of change.

“Over the years, we’ve evolved,” said Lemieux. “We’ve evolved to meet the needs of the residents. We’re very much client centred.”

This change, Lemieux says, offers people a chance to manage their path to recovery in a way that best suites them.

The other licenced centres in Lethbridge, according to the government, include the Fresh Start Recovery Centre, Lethbridge Stabilization Centre, Lethbridge Recovery Centre – Adult Detoxification Services and the Lethbridge Youth Treatment Centre.