Pubdate: Tue, 05 Feb 2013
Source: Abbotsford Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 The Abbotsford Times
Contact:  http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1009
Author: Rochelle Baker

ABBOTSFORD MAYOR CALLS OUT FRASER HEALTH FOLLOWING HARM REDUCTION FORUM

Abbotsford Mayor Bruce Banman says that Fraser Health actually 
weakened its case to bring needle exchange services to the city 
following a public forum on the issue last week.

The health authority continues to balk at providing the city with 
more detox services, which should be a big part of any harm reduction 
mandate, said Banman.

"They are going to save lots of money [to health care with needle 
exchange services], but not one thin dime will be spent on additional 
rehab or detox services," said Banman.

"They've actually made matters worse. The council was expecting some 
better solution from Fraser Health than what we heard."

Banman was also outraged with Fraser Health's stance that while it 
would like to work cooperatively with the city, it is investigating 
legal options to deal with the bylaw on the basis it limits the 
authority's right to provide health care services within the municipality.

"If you want cooperation, you don't start with threats," said Banman.

The mayor's comments followed the city's second forum Tuesday night, 
held as part of a review of Abbotsford's anti-harm reduction bylaw 
that bans measures such as needle exchange services.

Fraser Health has repeatedly requested Abbotsford revise the bylaw to 
allow needle exchange services in the city, which it believes has 
high rates of new hepatitis C infections due to drug users re-using 
dirty needles or crack pipes.

Four Fraser Health experts, who outlined a proposed needle 
distribution plan and the detox services available in the region, 
made up the panel at the forum.

Marcus Lem, medical health officer for Fraser Health East, pointed 
out that needle exchange as a harm reduction measure to prevent the 
transmission of blood borne diseases such as Hep C and HIV is widely 
recognized around the world.

"We need to do what we can to make things safer for people until they 
are ready to quit [drugs]," said Lem.

There is no evidence needle exchange services encourage people to use 
drugs or prevents people from quitting them, he stressed.

John Sutherland, chair of the city's Social Development Advisory 
Committee (ASDAC), told the panel that it was recommending council 
repeal the bylaw.

"We are very much in favour of what you are proposing," said Sutherland.

However, Sutherland also broached the issue of detox services in the 
community as a primary pillar of harm reduction and questioned 
whether such services were sufficient in Abbotsford.

Sherry Mumford, FHA director of mental health and substance use, 
noted Abbotsford residents have access to the Riverstone in-home, 
mobile detox service, or they can go to the Creek-side withdrawal 
centre in Surrey.

Riverstone, which can either treat people at home or in some beds 
allotted at King-haven or Peardonville House Society, served 621 
patients in 2012.

That was a greater number than were treated at Chilliwack's static 
treatment centre before it was closed, said Mumford.

However, Warm Zone employees who work with at-risk women noted Fraser 
Health didn't pay for transporting clients to Creekside and the 
centre was "left holding the bill."

Some drug users also stressed that you had to have a "home" to access 
Riverside services and questioned why there wasn't a detox centre at 
the Abbotsford Regional Hospital (ARH).

Riverstone detox service does not have a wait list but Creekside 
centre can have a lineup for treatment ranging from two days to two 
weeks, said Mumford.

Banman also questioned why Fraser Health, which has the right to 
establish needle exchange services immediately without the city's 
cooperation, did not set up needle exchange services at ARH.

"If they feel the bylaw is so outrageous, they could be doing needle 
exchange at the hospital if they chose to."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom