The Silent Epidemic: Seniors and Addiction

Treatment centers, including The Orchard, are experiencing a steady increase in the number of older clients seeking substance abuse treatment. At a recent National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) forum, US officials reported that they expected the number of older adults with alcohol and drug issues to increase by 150% by 2020. More...

The Key to Preventing Relapse

"I had a really bad habit and had tried several different treatment centers with no success. The problem was that I was going from step A to step C and missing step B altogether. Step B is extended care. Extended care gave me the ability to adjust to life beyond The Orchard. I know if I had gone straight back to normal life I would have relapsed again. Extended care is the best deal. For a little more than $100 a day you get 24 hour care seven days a week if you need it," says Monica who now manages the women's extended care/sober living facility at The Orchard. If you're an Orchard alum with a story to tell about your recovery contact gabrielle@orchardrecovery.com. Your confidentiality will be maintained.

3rd Annual Orchard Alumni Retreat April 23 to 25

Join us for a weekend of relaxation, fun, fellowship, and continued self-discovery at RockRidge Canyon's new Wolfe Creek Lodge, located in the majestic Cascade Mountains near Princeton, BC. Reconnect with the Orchard and make new friends while enjoying yoga, meditation, delicious meals, CANADA'S LONGEST ZIP LINE and daily 12-step meetings. Richard Osler, one of The Orchard's most dynamic and inspirational guest facilitators, will lead an extended poetry workshop Saturday, April 24. More...

The Orchard in the Media

It has been an exciting few months at The Orchard, with the treatment center and staff receiving considerable media attention. Some highlights: staff and clients were featured on Global TV; our Clinical Team Leader, Daryl Samson, and an Orchard alum were quoted extensively in an article about prescription drug abuse; and Orchard President, Lorinda Strang, was invited to take part in a panel discussion on the same topic on CKNW's The Bill Good Show in December. Links to all of these items can be found on the media page of The Orchard's website.

Profile

Dr. Patrick Fay MD, MB Bch Bao, LMCC, ECFMG and Flex (Clinical) WA State, ASAM, ABAM Certified Our Medical Team Leader, Dr. Patrick Fay, has more than 30 years of experience in all areas of addiction medicine, including detox, outpatient addiction treatment, and as Vancouver's Medical Advisor on Addictions to the Provincial Government of British Columbia. Dr. Fay has played an important role in establishing modern addiction treatment protocols among physicians in BC and he is an extremely valuable member of The Orchard's clinical team. More...

Honour a Life

Thanks to all of you who attended Honor a Life in November and paid tribute to those we've lost to addiction. There were nearly 50 alumni, staff, clients and guests here, representing more than 130 years of sobriety. Marilyn Snook shared her family's grief regarding the loss of their son Dan who passed away in 2007. She presented the book his father wrote in tribute to their son. A Boy After the Sea is a collection of recipes by 26 international chefs. The book was named "The Best Seafood Cookbook in the World" at the International Gourmand Cookbook Competition in Paris and all proceeds from sales will go to the Dan Snook Foundation, which is dedicated to helping young people overcome hurdles and improve their lives. The book is available at Barbara Jo's Books to Cooks 1740 West 2nd Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada (tel.604-688-6755). For information on the Dan Snook Foundation, visit www.dansnooktrustfoundation.com.