New St. Paul’s program offers fast, long-term help to those seeking addiction recovery

published on August 27, 2024 by Denise Ryan in Vancouver Sun

It was the bed that changed everything — comforting and soft, with a thin blue curtain for privacy.

“That bed showed me what life could be like,” said Ryan Top, a recovering alcoholic and addict.

Top said his life was saved by Road to Recovery, a new program at St. Paul’s Hospital. Opened in September last year, Road to Recovery connects patients to a care team that follows them through detox, transition treatment and long-term treatment programs in the community for up to five years.

Top, 32, had been “narcaned” out of fentanyl overdoses at least six times, and lived on the streets in a long, brutal battle with addiction and toxic drug supply poisoning that began when he was a teenager.

He was used to being the least-welcome person in a room or on any city street.

When he was referred to Road to Recovery, he was sure it would be the same as every other time: “You feel awful, you have no hope,” said Top…