Pubdate: Fri, 11 Apr 2008 Source: Vancouver Courier (CN BC) Copyright: 2008 Vancouver Courier Contact: http://www.vancourier.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/474 Author: Mike Howell Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) MAYENCOURT: REHAB CENTRE TIME WELL SPENT MLA's mission is to help addicts turn lives around Vancouver-Burrard Liberal MLA Lorne Mayencourt says the time he's spent developing a drug rehabilitation centre near Prince George is not eating into his work as an elected representative. Mayencourt said his office has not received any complaints from constituents about his absence from the riding. Rather, he said, he is receiving encouragement for his decision to open the Baldy Hughes Therapeutic Community at a former military base 40 kilometres outside of Prince George. "We all need to understand that although I'm away in Prince George, I'm trying to change the way the provincial government deals with the mentally ill, the drug addicted and homelessness in the entire province," he told the Courier from Victoria. "We're getting some good results." He noted six of the 16 clients are from Vancouver, including a young couple that is about to have a baby. The couple had a drug addiction but have been clean since arriving at the facility in December, he said. Mayencourt said he spent 15 days in March in Prince George and will spend another 10 days there at the end of the month. He opened the facility in December with money he raised privately. So far, he said, he's spent roughly $200,000 to operate and renovate the facility. His goal is to have 100 clients staying at the treatment centre by the end of the year. He estimated his budget for the year will be $1.5 million. A dormitory is being built and a curling rink and bowling alley are being renovated. Recreation is a component of the abstinence-based program which involves counselling and support groups. The facility offers a Grade 12 equivalency program and trades courses in such areas as woodworking to help clients acquire skills to get a job. The facility is modelled after a rehabilitation centre in Italy, where more than 20,000 addicts have gone through a similar program. Mayencourt has criticized the city's supervised injection site, saying the research hasn't proven addicts are getting off drugs. Researchers of the site have said otherwise in numerous peer-reviewed articles in medical journals. Mayencourt believes his facility offers clients hope for a life without addiction. But he said he wouldn't characterize his facility as being the anti-injection site or a superior program to Mayor Sam Sullivan's proposal to have medical doctors prescribe legal drugs to addicts. "It's not anti-anything. It's just a different approach," he said. Mayencourt decided last fall that he would not seek another term as MLA. There has been widespread speculation that he will seek the nomination to represent the Conservatives in the next federal election. "I haven't really made up my mind whether I want to stay in public life. What I'm doing now [with the rehabilitation centre] is a passion. It's been the toughest work I've ever done--by a mile. It's been a great experience." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom