Pubdate: Tue, 14 Jan 2003
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 The Vancouver Sun
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Jim Beatty
Note: With file from Amy O'Brian

SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELLORS FEEL CAMPBELL'S BUDGET CUTS

VICTORIA -- At the same time Premier Gordon Campbell is preparing to seek 
alcohol abuse counselling, his government is cutting services for thousands 
of others who require the same assistance.

Drug and alcohol counselling providers say they are being forced to cut 
services by about 10 per cent as a result of provincial budget constraints.

Roy Crowe, executive director of the Association of Substance Abuse 
Programs of B.C., called it ironic that Campbell would be seeking the very 
services his government is cutting.

"The cuts have been five to 10 per cent across the board," Crowe said Monday.

Essentially, Crowe said the province has frozen the money it spends on drug 
and alcohol counselling. With more demand, increasing costs and 
provincially approved wage increases, the result is about 10 per cent less 
for addiction services.

Crowe said about 80 of the non-profit drug and alcohol organizations he 
represents are facing a cash crisis that will lead to fewer clients being 
served.

But for a Victoria organization that has provided alcohol treatment for 27 
years, the cut has been far worse.

In July, the provincial government cut all funding to the Victoria Life 
Enrichment Society, an organization that has provided intensive alcohol 
treatment since 1975.

"We are struggling to continue to operate," said Martin Spray, executive 
director of the society. "They gave us 60 days notice after 27 years of 
service. We had no warning, it just came out of the blue."

The society, which has treated more than 9,000 British Columbians, annually 
received $500,000 from the provincial government but now gets nothing.

"The rug was pulled out from beneath us," Spray said. "We were not given 
any written explanation about why we were cut."

The society formerly charged clients about $1,000 for a four-week 
residential treatment program. It now must charge $4,500 for the same 
service -- a fee that has dramatically reduced the number of people seeking 
treatment.

Lianne Peterson, director of communications with the Vancouver Island 
Health Authority, said the society lost its funding because it did not 
provide adequate treatment.

"It was just not a state of the art treatment modality," Peterson said. "It 
was not a treatment modality that was consistent with the way the Vancouver 
Island Health Authority envisioned care."

Peterson insists, however, that medical care for those with addictions and 
mental health issues has improved since the health authority took control 
of services.

"The advantage of integrating the care is dual diagnosis. Many, many 
individuals who suffer from addiction also have mental-health issues. That 
allows us to understand and treat both sides of the issue as opposed to 
treating them in isolation of one another," Peterson said.

After being charged with drunk driving in Hawaii on Jan. 10, Campbell asked 
for the forgiveness of British Columbians while swearing off booze. 
Although he doesn't believe he has an alcohol problem, Campbell has agreed 
to seek professional help.

The province annually spends $64 million on addiction services, which 
includes drug and alcohol counselling, detox, outreach and residential 
services.

The money, which has been frozen this year at the same level as last year, 
is divided among the five provincial health regions, which make specific 
decisions on where the money should be spent.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth