People fighting methamphetamine addiction in Manitoba will soon have access to more treatment beds that offer longer stays, provincial and federal politicians say. The funding will set aside treatment beds specifically for methamphetamine users, who can experience withdrawal symptoms that last longer than the seven-day maximum stay allowed for the province's existing treatment beds. Manitoba Health Minister Cameron Friesen said the province has been ill-equipped to help people through lengthy meth withdrawals, which can last months. Treatment beds available longerThis approach is "more flexible about the duration of that first length of stay for treating that meth patient, stabilizing them, getting them supports and getting them ready for a longer treatment program," Friesen said. Dr. Ginette Poulin with the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba is pleased with a new joint government initiative to fund more treatment beds and mobile clinical support services.

Source: CBC News December 07, 2018 16:31 UTC