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."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom