Odyssey House Annual Report 2010

The Odyssey House Withdrawal Unit is housed in a
modern facility built on the grounds of Robin Hood Farm
in 1999. The rural setting provides an ideal environment of
privacy and comfort, which helps the men and women
who are attempting to withdraw from a range of licit and
illicit drugs and alcohol. The Withdrawal Unit is able to
accommodate up to 13 people in need of medically
supervised withdrawal. Qualified nurses staff the unit on a
24 hour basis. All clients are reviewed and assessed by a
doctor to determine an appropriate withdrawal regime.
The program lasts from seven to ten days and includes a
social and medical assessment and an individually tailored
withdrawal regime as well as supportive individual and
group counselling. Participants are also taught relaxation
techniques and receive educational information on relapse
prevention.
Withdrawal Unit
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Odyssey House Annual Report 2010
• During the year, 324 people were admitted to the
Withdrawal Unit: 269 people (83%) completed the
withdrawal process, with 53 per cent of these
transferring to the residential rehabilitation program.
• Staff morale remained high based on evaluation forms
and feedback.
• An intern psychologist conducted mental health
assessments on clients; those requiring early
intervention were referred to the consulting psychiatrist.
• The Kessler 10 Inventory, which measures mental
health, showed a positive improvement of 6.15 per cent
on clients’ moods.
• Focus groups were implemented to give clients in the
Withdrawal Unit a good understanding of the residential
rehabilitation program and what is involved in living
within a therapeutic community. This acted as a catalyst
for clients to transfer to the residential facility after they
completed the withdrawal phase.