Wait times for treatment need to be eliminated
Waitlists for addiction treatment can vary depending on several factors, including the type of treatment, location, and funding source. In general, government-funded addiction treatment programs tend to have longer wait times than private treatment facilities.
Whyare private addiction treatment wait times shorter
Government-funded treatment programs often have limited resources, including staffing and funding, resulting in longer wait times for individuals seeking treatment. In some cases, government-funded programs may have strict eligibility requirements or long waitlists for specific types of treatment, such as inpatient detox or residential treatment.
Private treatment facilities, on the other hand, may have more resources and flexibility to accommodate individual needs and preferences. They may also offer more specialized or personalized treatment options, such as holistic therapies or luxury amenities. Private treatment facilities are typically funded through private insurance or out-of-pocket payments, allowing them to exercise greater control over their resources and services.
Another factor that can contribute to longer waitlists for government-funded addiction treatment is the overall demand for services. Addiction is a widespread problem that affects many individuals and communities, and the demand for treatment can exceed the available resources. Private treatment facilities may be better able to manage demand by limiting the number of patients they accept or by adjusting their services to meet their clients’ needs.
Addiction Treatment is a Business
The above excuses and reasons for longer waitlists for addiction treatment hold merit in certain situations. I am entirely on board with addiction treatment being a business. The problem is that most people who start this business do it with all the right motives. Somewhere along the line, these motives change. Starting with all our decision makers and people who hand out the money for addiction services, down to the people who start up residential treatment societies. There are numerous centres across Canada where you can be placed on a waitlist for a couple of months if you have no money to pay for treatment, but if you have money, you can be admitted the next day and receive the same services as the person who waited months to get in. This is where we need changes. Why is one person’s life worth more than others’?
We already know that addiction costs about 40 billion annually in Canada, with alcohol and tobacco totalling almost two-thirds of the costs. Currently, the government will fund a person’s treatment up to about $1,500 a month. Any society that operates solely on this income will survive and allow a couple of people to make a living wage. Those who elect to incorporate “private funding options” will be able to provide better services with more evidence-based treatment. Cancer treatment, such as radiation, costs around $10,000 per patient. These costs are fully covered. So, a cancer patient is worth more than a “rug addict” in the eyes of policymakers and healthcare. Even if the government were to increase funding to $55,000 a month for treatment, waitlists for addiction treatment would drop by than half and likely meet the target goal of less than one week. This is a more realistic price point that current facilities operating both private and funded beds would be on board with. This would also allow for increased services for many societies that operate with the bare minimum and rely on food donations and other community services.
Canada has a long way to go with providing proper care to treat addiction. The harm reduction model we have all grown to know has shown little evidence of any improvement. It is time to rethink how we are approaching addiction. Looking at it from a communicative approach and providing more housing and a safe supply is not the answer. The answer, until some magic medicine is invented, is evidence-based addiction treatment followed by ongoing after-care services.