Northland detox base quickly in full service

A new regional in-patient detox centre has opened at Dargaville - a Northland first - and the unit is already  full.
The centre, first mooted in June by the Northland District Health Board after government funding became available for a regional facility, opened late last month.
Named Timatanga Hou, which means new beginnings, the centre has  24-hour care, counselling and treatment programmes.
"Northland  until now has not had a social detoxification centre which provided a safe, specialist, non-medical environment in which to come off drugs," Dargaville Hospital operational manager Jen Thomas said.
"As with medical detox, other than for alcohol, clients had to travel to Auckland. This meant often family or whanau could not be involved in their support."
The three single-bedroom facility has been established in the former surgical wing of the Dargaville Hospital. The refurbished and upgraded facility includes a lounge, "quiet room", and a doctor's clinic.
Clients attend  on a voluntary basis but  must be referred by their doctor or drug and alcohol counsellor.
 Clients are encouraged to help with their care, including  meal preparation and learning practical life skills.  Stays  range from one week to three or longer depending on the client.
Dr Liz Humm, from the neighbouring Dargaville Medical Centre, provides medical services to the unit.
The centre's team also work closely with the Kaipara mental health, alcohol and drug addiction teams.
Mrs Thomas says addiction can affect people from every walk of life. She believed the unit was a great asset to Dargaville in that not only was it a much-needed service, but it had also created five new health-care positions.
She said this was very positive because in many rural areas nationwide, health services were reducing.
"The Dargaville service is significant - not only is it about Northlanders being treated by Northlanders, the service also complements other services based at the Dargaville Hospital."
Mrs Thomas said  funding had been put to best use by adapting  existing facilities instead of building from scratch.

 Six clients have used  the facility already.