Pubdate: Wed, 16 Nov 2005
Source: Quesnel Cariboo Observer (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Quesnel Cariboo Observer
Contact:  http://www.quesnelobserver.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1260
Author: Stephen Braverman
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

ADDICTION TREATMENT LACKING

Drug addicts in Quesnel are falling through cracks in the system due
to the lack of a treatment centre as well as funding for treatment,
Quesnel city council heard on Monday night.

Bea Thatcher, director of Quesnel Addiction Services, told council
there are not enough resources and services available in Quesnel to
adequately help drug addicts kick their habit.

"Treatment is the solution," Thatcher said. "When people go to jail,
they don't get any treatment. When they come out, they're worse than
before.

"They come out of jail with a lot of anger and often go back into that
lifestyle."

Thatcher said Prince George has a treatment centre, but it costs
$4,000 for a four-month stay.

Funding from the provincial government is available only if you're on
social assistance, she said.

"If you're working, then you don't get subsidized," Thatcher said. "If
you have a family, it's almost impossible for you to go."

Debbie Strang, a team leader for mental health services, said Quesnel
has five beds designated for detox services, but the maximum length of
stay is two weeks.

The average stay is five days, she said.

"We're very busy," Strang said. "It takes three to five days to detox
them, then we run into the gap where they need treatment. And we're
only funded for 11 months of the year. It's a big gap."

Kathy Wrath, a street nurse for Quesnel Public Health, said a
recovering addict should meet with a drug counsellor once a week, but
they have only enough staff for a meeting every three weeks.

"Because we can't see people enough, we lose people, and they go back
to the street," Wrath said.

Coun. Mary Sjostrom wanted to know whether Quesnel was too small to
have its own treatment centre.

"I'm not sure," Thatcher answered. "It's always been a dream of ours
to have one, but it's very expensive."

Sjostrom suggested council lobby Northern Health for more funding,
however council has not made a decision on a course of action yet. The
minutes of the delegation meeting will be referred to the next regular
council meeting on Nov. 21.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin