Pubdate: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 Source: Globe and Mail (Canada) Copyright: 2006, The Globe and Mail Company Contact: http://www.globeandmail.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168 Author: Steve Mertl, Canadian Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) ADDICTION GROUPS LAUD BUDGET BOOST But Opposition Decries Liberal Strategy VANCOUVER (BC) -- People who work with drug addicts welcomed the B.C. government's decision to add another $8-million a year to addiction services for young people, including $2-million aimed at the growing problem of crystal meth. But the Opposition, while pleased with the extra funds, criticized the Liberals for taking a crisis-management approach and leaving the province behind Alberta when it comes to the number of treatment beds. Health Minister George Abbott announced yesterday that the money will be divided among the regional health authorities, with the largest chunks going to the Vancouver and Fraser Valley health regions. Most of the funds will go toward bolstering services for all kinds of addictions, but the government is singling out crystal meth as a serious problem, especially among young people. The drug, mostly cooked up in clandestine labs using over-the-counter cold medications and toxic chemicals, is cheap and provides a long-lasting buzz. The money will be used to help intervene with occasional users, provide additional detox beds, support for addicts' families and research into the overall crystal meth problem. Mr. Abbott said the number of treatment beds available for young addicts once the money is in place will rise to about 158 beds provincewide from the current 106, out of 1,038 treatment beds overall. NDP Leader Carole James said she's happy to see more dollars go toward treatment beds but renewed her party's criticism of the government's strategy. "Alberta has just over 1,000 beds and we have 25 per cent more population base than Alberta," she said. "It shows the government's playing catch-up." The Liberals knew from the work of local agencies that the additional beds should have been in place last year, she said. But Mr. Abbott and local addiction-treatment workers stressed treatment beds are just part of the equation. "The beds are just a small part of what youth are asking for," said Kathy Snowden, head of the Vancouver Boys and Girls Club addiction program. "They're needing outreach workers, counsellors and semi-independent living arrangements." The approaches Vancouver uses include four levels of withdrawal management, outpatient treatment and detox in the home. Ms. James said she approves of the multipronged approach of detox and support but blames Liberal cuts to community support services for making it harder for addicts to change their lives. Still, former crystal meth addict David Mcaleese said the new money for treatment beds and support services "will help immensely." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom