Supported Recovery Rooms use is 'increasing', says pilot project manager

The Supportive Recovery Roomsprogram, apilot project in Guelph thatprovidesa safe space for individuals to rest and recover fromsubstance use, has been busy since its launchalmost two weeks ago.

The program, since being openon Jan.8, provides participants with two beds and a paramedic present to monitor their wellbeing.

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From Jan.8 to Jan.19,nine people have used the programand staff havelogged 180 hours of sleep-recovery.

"We're seeing folks utilizing the service exactly as intended and getting the rest and leaving more stable," JanKlotz, client care supervisor at the Guelph Community Health Centreand project manager, told CBCNews.

"In the last 10 days we've really seen an uptake in admissions and people staying...and use is increasing."

Klotz adds that the program is aimed towardindividuals who "often don't fit in the system we have" and is then bounced from service to service.

"They are not sick enough for hospitalization but experience substance abuse issues that they are not able to stabilize within the shelter system," she said.

Paramedic'srole

Twelve paramedics have been trained for the 90-day pilot program.

LeanneSwankto, deputy chief ofGuelph-WellingtonParamedic Services, who also helped shape Supportive Recovery Rooms, said the program runs on a referral system through outreach workers.

"They'll identify a client that would fit our criteria," she said. "They will come in the clinic and our paramedic will do a full assessment on the individual, look at their vital signs and get a brief history of the person to ensure that they do fit."

Once the paramedic clears the individual, they can rest and recover for up to 72 hours.

The Supportive Recovery Rooms falls under the harm reduction services spectrum. However, it is not a safe injection site or an overdose recovery program.

"It's about harm reduction but we do not allow substance abuse," Swanktosaid. "The person has to be in a state that they are ready to rest. If they are on,let's say methamphetamine, and are agitated, we don't accept them into the clinic at that time."

Though they don't force an individual to seek treatment, staff does start the conversation of social and support services available to them once they are ready to leave the recovery room.

Staff also follows up with the program's dedicated outreach worker to ensure the individual is safe.

The pilot comes to an end on March 31, but Klotzhopes ongoing funding will broaden the scope of the project.

"I think this is something that is needed in our community," she said.