Pubdate: Mon, 15 Apr 2002 Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC) Copyright: 2002 Hacker Press Ltd. Contact: http://www.abbynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155 Author: Trudy Beyak DETOX CENTRE PARAMOUNT: KIDS USE DRUGS, EXPLOITED Community leaders intend to form a non-profit society to try to establish a detox centre, with a primary focus on youth, as soon as possible in Abbotsford. That was the consensus of a meeting held in downtown Abbotsford Wednesday night attended by about 70 people ranging from counsellors and drug addicts to politicians and police. It was strongly suggested that the Fraser Health Authority establish a detox centre in the new hospital. In the meantime, a committee will be struck to look into possibilities of establishing a facility sooner, because the new hospital is not expected to open for at least four years. The need for a detox centre has never been greater in Abbotsford with children as young as six to eight years old using drugs and some being sexually exploited by the age of 10, noted Josie Kane, substance abuse counsellor with Abbotsford Community Services. Funding is a huge problem with provincial government cutbacks and the closure of the Campbell Valley treatment centre - and Abbotsford Mayor George Ferguson said the Liberal MLAs should be held accountable for not doing more to help young drug addicts in Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley. In fact, the number of detox beds available to the Fraser Valley has dramatically decreased since April 1, said Uultsje DeJong, chairman of the Abbotsford Coalition for Crime Prevention and Drug Treatment steering committee. Recently, the provincial government reorganized drug addiction services, moving it from the Ministry for Children and Families to the Ministry of Health Services. The reorganization of the health system has struck a real blow to the Fraser Valley in terms of detox beds available for young people, said DeJong. The Coastal Health authority now claims all of the beds available in the Vancouver Detox and Harbour Lights Detox Centre for their own patients in their jurisdiction - leaving the Fraser Health Authority (serving over one million people from Burnaby to Abbotsford and Boston Bar) with only the Maple Cottage Detox Centre. Only three beds are designated for youth out of the 22 beds available at Maple Cottage, said De Jong. "It's disgusting and it's unacceptable," said DeJong. "If you're a young person who needs to go to detox, you can't wait, because three days later you could be dead." Ferguson said pressure needs to be applied to local MLAs such as John Les, John van Dongen and Mike de Jong to make sure that this city gets funding for a new detox centre. Deputy Mayor Ed Fast noted, during the meeting, that community consensus exists to pull together and establish a detox centre. Some people attending the meeting said residents should not only rely on the provincial government, but city council must show foresight and leadership on the issue and be involved in a pro-active manner. Ferguson said the provincial MLAs should not be off the hook on the funding question. After all, Abbotsford residents are paying their fair share in provincial taxes and should be getting their fair share in resources, including a detox centre, said the mayor. One resident said the success of home-based detox centres also needs to be explored. Downtown Abbotsford is like the heart of the city -and if the heart of the city is sick - it needs to be healed for the general health of the entire city, explained Abbotsford Police Const. Denys Scully, chairman of the Integrated Services Team, who works in the community policing section. He said Abbotsford certainly needs a detox centre, but the city council also needs to practice a balanced approach to solving some of the disturbing crime problems, related to drugs and prostitution in downtown. The officer favours solving the crime problems through "environmental design" which is a practical, workable solution. Scully noted that there "is too much concentration" of social services and low-cost housing in the downtown area. Indeed, the city must identify and shut down the flop houses, clean up the grimy areas, and close the second-hand businesses and the pawn shops that foster crime and the exchange of stolen property. He noted that the city should ask the police for their advice on any new development proposals in downtown Abbotsford and he does not think a detox centre should be built in the historical downtown core. There are three avenues available locally to deal with the problems in historical downtown: Enforcement, social improvements and business involvement. The first involves strict law enforcement by police, municipal bylaw officers, regional health officers and the regulation of liquor laws, for example, said Scully. Social care may involve community services, education, parks and recreation, faith and spiritual help, and the 12-step program. Business leaders are an important component to facilitating change, said Scully. The panel featured at the meeting included: Kane, Scully, Lucie Honey Ray of the Abbotsford Coalition for Social Development, Fiona Brett director of the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, and Mary Reeves executive director of the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth