Michael Garron Hospital opening first women’s withdrawal facility in Toronto
Posted August 24, 2022 4:37 pm.
Last Updated August 24, 2022 6:33 pm.
A new facility opened at Michael Garron Hospital is set to provide the first beds to women-identifying individuals with mental health and substance use issues in the east end.
The Women’s Withdrawal Management Services will provide 16 spots to people who identify as women, non-binary, two-spirit and trans who are experiencing withdrawal from alcohol and/or other substances.
With Toronto’s ongoing opioid crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, a service like this for women is more crucial than ever before, according to Mark Fam, Vice-President of Clinical Programs at MGH.
In 2021, there were 511 opioid-related deaths, a 74 per cent increase from 2019 and until today, there were no dedicated women’s withdrawal management beds between Bathurst Street and the city of Oshawa.
Fam said they have been advocating for a space like this to be built for the last few years as there has been a lack of women’s spaces available. “I think there’s been a history and a stigma around women not needing these services as much and so just hasn’t been a history of the city building these services.”
Clients can be referred to the clinic from the hospital itself or other emergency departments around the city.
“Oftentimes, the clients who come here may have come to the emergency department of the hospital and then get transferred here if they are ready and need that withdrawal support,” said Fam.
“But also, physicians, they need that additional access, not only during their crisis but if they stay on for outpatient programming and counselling and support.”
The 24/7 clinic also takes referrals from other community partners or even self-referrals from women who just come in off the street.
Gail Teabo, a recovering addict, said her experience would have been much different had she had access to these kinds of services when she was withdrawing.
“When you walk in when there’s a bunch of men around, there’s always tension of some kind. It’s very hard to trust. I was at my lowest point.” explained Teabo.
“Many women-identifying individuals who use substances have experienced abusive or violent situations, so being in an environment where there are other men can be triggering, traumatic and not helpful for treatment.”
“Having more dedicated women’s withdrawal management beds means more women have a place where they can feel safe and supported in their journey.”
If you want help, reach out. Reach out now,” said Teabo. “This is the beginning of the start of your journey.”
Program Supervisor Krystle Brady said it’s extremely important to have spaces for women.
“Women don’t have these types of spaces, and it’s really important that women see other women supporting them as well as women have really complex issues that get lost in a secular or just a broad range program that we can really become more specific with when we’re here in this center.”
Brady tells CityNews not only do they have an on-site nurse to aid during the initial withdrawal period, but also provide counsellors to their clients to discuss what treatment options might be available and help put together a recovery plan.
“So, if it’s going into harm reduction, we would do the referral to a harm reduction site. If they want more abstinence space for recovery and we’ll start to refer them to different treatment centres, and really, it’s up to the individual,” said Brady.
She says sometimes, certain patients need more than one opportunity.
“They’re always welcome back to return because we understand that recovery is not a linear journey, that there’s going to be hiccups and stops along the way and that the person can always return back to their facility.”
Brady encourages women who are struggling to reach out.
“If you are struggling with addictions today, there is help out there for you.”
“We have seen so many stories go to the positive, but sometimes it just highlights all the negatives that are happening. But there is hope. And we have a lot of community connections here at Michael Garron. And we’re hoping that we get as many women as who need to come through our services.”
Fam said they are currently funded by the Ministry of Health and hope to expand in the future. “I think there’s always an opportunity for expansion if the need arises, and so it’s something that we’ve committed with the government to look at and see what the demand is and if we need to expand over time.”
The clinic officially opens to clients on August 25.
