Pubdate: Tue, 18 Dec 2007 Source: Kamloops Daily News (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 Kamloops Daily News Contact: http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/679 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) TREATMENT CENTRE'S CLOSURE AN OUTRAGE The stories are everywhere - alcohol use is a growing problem in our society; drug and alcohol abuse costs governments untold amounts of money. Yet, in Kamloops, a treatment centre with a respectable track record will close in a few days because of a lack of funding. Kiwanis House is a residential facility that has operated in Kamloops for 37 years, helping people beat drug or alcohol addictions. It's run by a non-profit society and until last year was funded by the Health Ministry. In one of many changes implemented by Interior Health Authority, which oversees all health care in the B.C. Interior, Kiwanis funding was reduced to three beds. The remaining 18 beds are for private paying clients. The change occurred after the Kiwanis board refused an IH request that it become a supportive housing facility, which offers little or no treatment services, for people in recovery. It also called for a harm-reduction model, which doesn't evict people if they slip and use their drug of choice - not onsite. The Kiwanis board was intent upon continuing its mandate to help people kick their addictions, and using a zero-tolerance approach toward drugs and alcohol. Kiwanis House residents know that any use of drugs or booze will cost them their place in the program. It's unfortunate Interior Health officials could not see the benefit in providing full funding to Kiwanis House as a treatment facility. In fact, it's an outrage, as well as being seriously short-sighted. The health authority maintains that Crossroads, a treatment centre in Kelowna, is coping with demands for treatment. Crossroads is a harm-reduction facility, meaning people can remain even if they are under the influence of a drug. By allowing Kiwanis House to close as well as suggesting one residential facility in Kelowna is enough for the region, health officials are not accepting addiction is a disease. People who abuse drugs at the risk of their families, jobs and lives are not making a choice. They are suffering from a serious, life-threatening illness. The public still doesn't accept that. They prefer to condemn and criticize drug abusers and alcoholics. They would rather put addicts in jail than rehabilitate them through treatment programs. Governments, by not ensuring facilities meet the demand for treatment, give weight to that wrong-headed mentality. Yet, millions of dollars in legal and health costs alone could be saved if this disease was given the attention it deserves. People are ready to call the police if they see an addict dealing drugs to another addict on the street, but they stay silent when an important treatment like Kiwanis House is allowed to close from lack of funding. Let's get sensible for a change and push government to treat the root of the problem rather than use up all the resources on the consequences of addictions. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake