Pubdate: Wed, 17 Mar 2004
Source: Meridian Booster (CN AB)
Copyright: 2004, The Lloydminster Meridian Booster
Contact:  http://www.meridianbooster.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1590
Author: Todd MacKay

LLOYDMINSTER DETOX SHORTAGE PROMPTS LEGISLATURE DEBATE

As the Walter A. Slim Thorpe detox centre denies requests for help on a 
daily basis due to a lack of beds, Opposition MLAs are raising the issue in 
the Alberta Legislature.

Lloydminster Meridian Booster - As the Walter A. Slim Thorpe detox centre 
denies requests for help on a daily basis due to a lack of beds, Opposition 
MLAs are raising the issue in the Alberta Legislature.

"A Lloydminster detox centre admitted that it had turned away 90 patients 
last month," said Liberal Laurie Blakeman during question period this past 
Thursday. "How does the government justify huge liquor sales profits while 
people with addictions go untreated?"

The government receives $588 million from liquor and related revenue, but 
spends only $48 million to directly treat addiction, according to Blakeman. 
Premier Ralph Klein contested Blakeman's assessment of the numbers.

"Taxes for liquor go into general revenues and are used for a multitude of 
services including services for those suffering addictions," replied Klein. 
"I can tell you where $7.2 billion dollars of that money went. It went to 
health care generally."

Slim Thorpe hopes to get a little more of that revenue in the new fiscal 
year beginning April 1.

The facility currently offers a total of six detox beds, four of which are 
funded equally by the Alberta and Saskatchewan governments.

Slim Thorpe director Craig Featherstone is lobbying for $20,000 from each 
province to provide another two publicly funded beds. The facility's total 
budget, including both public and private funding, is about $1.3 million 
per year.

In February the detox centre turned away more than 90 requests for help 
because beds were already full. Featherstone says the centre is on pace for 
similar numbers in March.

"Two more beds could help another 100 people a year," said Featherstone.

The Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission is aware of the pressure on 
Slim Thorpe's detox centre. AADAC program consultant Marcy Dibbs says the 
Lloydminster facility operates at about 88 per cent capacity. Detox centres 
in Edmonton and Calgary run at about 80 per cent.

"When there are new developments we certainly keep an eye on it," she said. 
"(But) there's no guarantee of a funding solution."

Dibbs says facilities usually need to make funding requests a year in advance.

Government needs to make that funding more readily available, according to 
Opposition members.

Blakeman says the government itself is addicted to the revenue it receives 
from alcohol, tobacco and gambling, while doing too little to help those 
struggling with addiction.

"We have to tie revenue to funding for treatment," she said. "More money 
for the government equals more people with problems." 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman