RADAT: Creating a Healing Space

Brigid Ting, R.Ac, BSN, M.Ed

Richmond Alcohol and Drug Action Team (RADAT) has provided services to people with addictions for the last 27 years. On March 29 2004, they started a new DAYTOX program that is open to Richmond residents. George Passmore MA, RCC and Dawn Dixon RN, BSc N, coordinate this program. DAYTOX integrates addictions counseling, psycho educational groups, yoga, nutritional education, exercise opportunities and acupuncture detox. I will focus on the acupuncture detox aspect here.

RADAT is located in a central industrial area; the building is sandwiched between a noisy road and barren parking lots. Inside the walls are institutional cream complemented with old gray carpet, stacking chairs, a clutter of notices and furniture – hardly great feng shui!

For the acupuncture detox component our Registered Acupuncturists (R.Ac) are myself and Nancy Yerby-Cameron. We are both educated as National Acupuncture Detoxification Specialists (NADA). In addition I bring experience in Therapeutic Touch (TT) , psychiatric nursing and education. Nancy brings experience in TCM herbology, yoga and Macrobiotic Dietary Consultations with "cordon bleu" flair! For both of us, it was important to create a healing space for our acupuncture sessions.


A Healing Space

A healing space has a peaceful ambiance that is clean and welcoming; a sense that all people are valued and empowered in their progress towards health; that nature is nurturing, healing and contributes positive energy into the environment; and that the professionals involved are accountable, empathetic and trustworthy. To create this healing space, we collaborated with the coordinators George and Dawn to achieve this on a very tight budget.

Now, the large open room that acts as a corridor to adjacent offices is divided by moving walls. In our smaller area the chairs are in a circle with a bowl of fresh flowers in the center. Clients were restless in the hard stacking chairs, so we have added “colour co-ordinated” soft gray back support cushions that really improve their comfort. For decoration Dawn found restful pictures at IKEA, Nancy added an ear Acupuncture chart, and for durability these are plastic coated. A visit to Daiso, our local Japanese $2 store, was most productive as I added blue foot stools, cheerful floral trays to hold our acupuncture equipment and folders with 40 clear plastic inserts which now have acupuncture articles for the clients to read. Green plants and a water fountain flowing over rocks help create yin yang harmony for all groups throughout the day. During acupuncture detox, we play relaxing music. We choose CDs of gentle harmonious music (no words) and nature sounds.

Our acupuncture detox group runs Monday to Friday 10.00 – 12.00. Our treatment approach is holistic, we recognize that acupuncture works best if clients have eaten breakfast and avoided stimulating coffee. At 9.30 RADAT staff facilitate the “Check-in Group” that includes muffins (provided as a donation from the Bread Garden) and detox tea. This detox tea is also available all day, and the clients quickly develop a liking for its herbal flavor and relaxing effect.

Our clients are men and women from Richmond; the substances used include alcohol, crack, cocaine, methamphetamine, benzodiazepines, heroin, morphine and marijuana. Their ages range from teen to elderly. Their ethnic groups include Caucasian, Arab, Indo-Canadian, (so far no Asian). Clients can self refer, or be referred to RADAT DAYTOX by a health care professional. Yesterday I treated 10 clients, many of whom are coming regularly for acupuncture. They are quickly coalescing into a supportive group, bringing in relaxing music CDs to share during therapy, and giving each other rides to the local AA, CA or NA meeting.

At our recent Open House, a visitor received an ear acupuncture treatment. Afterwards she commented, “ I feel so peaceful and relaxed. I don’t know if it is just the acupuncture or the whole package.” It seemed to me she was commenting on the therapeutic effect of acupuncture within the context of our healing space. For our clients, this healing space nurtures their recovery in all their therapeutic groups throughout the day.

I think this RADAT DAYTOX program has potential to offer a valuable holistic service to people trying to cope with a substance use habit in Richmond. “East meets West” as NADA acupuncture detox is integrated with conventional addiction groups/ counseling. At RADAT, on a shoestring budget, we are creating a healing space!

One last thought, sometimes as health professionals, we overlook the importance of creating a healing space for our clients. I hope this article stimulates you to reflect on your own practice and treatment environment. How well have you created a healing space for yourself and your clients?

Links for Youth Outreach / Prevention

Prevention Sources BC
www.preventionsource.bc.ca

Your Life—Your Choice: Virtual Life/Choices Game www.schoolnet.ca/alcohol

RADAT (Richmond Alcohol & Drug Action Team)
#107 – 5720 Minoru Blvd.
Richmond, B.C. V6X 2A9
Phone (604) 270- 9220
Fax (604) 270 - 9245
http://richmondaddictions.ca/
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NADA links:
 Acu Detox