50 years for Kamloops addiction support centre

KAMLOOPS– It all started 50 years ago when a handful of parents got together to discuss young people in the community using drugs and alcohol.

In an attempt to make a difference, the early draft of the Kamloops Society for Alcohol and Drug Services was created. Now known as Day One Society, the programs and supports offered at the Phoenix Centre have only grown in the last half a century, and Day One Society believes the new name better reflects their services.

Amanda Mantha came to the Phoenix Centre in her early teens, seeking support with her addiction.

“Addiction was a lot of loneliness and a lot of hurt,” Mantha told CFJC News.

“Working through that and coming to the point where I could sit in a room with a counsellor, and admit who I am and what I’ve done, no matter how bad and that’s the hardest part, but that’s recovery.”

Mantha is one of the thousands of clients to go through the programs in Kamloops.

Leann Kopytko, a counsellor with Day One Society has been working with youth for 25 years.

“In the work that we do, it’s hard not to get close to the people that we work with. Especially when they’re young youth,” Kopytko explained.

“Often, they are misunderstood in society. They might be disconnected from their family. They might have broken trust in the community with friends or family members. People that normally would matter to them.”

Mantha and many others who worked with Kopytko said they didn’t know where they would be without her help.

“I can say honestly that without her in my life, I didn’t think I would be on this planet today, she was a saviour for me,” Mantha said.

In April, five more youth beds are slated to open at the Kamloops centre.

But even with the additions, the centre will still have a waitlist of clients, which Sian Lewis executive director of Day One Society said creates major problems.

“[Like] when we go to emergency, we walk into a door, we want immediate attention and we’re triaged,” Lewis said.

“And for our services, because we haven’t grown into the capacity we would like to see, yes people do not get immediate service. We get them in absolutely as soon as we can and we have to do a triage process.”

According to Day One, stigmas around addiction are still present and can create a barrier for people looking for help.

“Our community in Kamloops is amazing. But there’s still a lot of stigmas here,” Kopytko said.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done around educating and reducing the harm to people, reducing the harm to the community.”

As part of the 50-year anniversary celebration, the society launched its 50 Years. One Day at a Time campaign, to raise awareness and end the stigma.

Featured in the campaign is a film made by the society.

The film features the stories of clients who went through programs at Phoenix Centre paired with choreography by dancer Emily Pugsley and score by Melody Oliver.

More information on One Day Society and its services can be found here.