Pubdate: Mon, 15 Aug 2016
Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Vancouver 24 hrs.
Contact: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/letters
Website: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837
Author: Brent Stafford
Page: 6

THE DUEL

Columnists Brent Stafford and Petr Pospisil battle over the issues of
the day.

This week's topic: Is the B.C. government responsible for protecting
youth from drug overdoses?

TEEN'S DEATH NOT GOVERNMENT'S FAULT

Professional government critics such as Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond -
B.C.'s Representative for Children and Youth - should acknowledge that
government ministries and support services dedicated to caring for
youth exist not because government has a problem, but because society
has a problem.

I caution to not expect such an admission anytime soon, for
misery-mongers like Turpel-Lafond never miss an opportunity to turn
tragedy into a political attack.

The responsibility for the tragic death of Coquitlam teenager
Gwynevere Staddon should not be laid at the feet of the BC Liberal
government - or any government. The 16-year-old was found dead in a
Starbucks bathroom from an apparent drug overdose - following a recent
battle with heroin use.

In the wake of the teen's death, Turpel-Lafond, as reported in the
Vancouver Sun, claims that Staddon's family reached out for support
services and "was not given the support they needed" and that her
death "could have been prevented."

Turpel-Lafond alludes that Staddon was unable to get into government
treatment in a timely manner, and she addresses and absolves the
family of "some type of flaw or moral failing" stating, "I really
stand with this family to say this family did everything they could.
The fact is in British Columbia the support this girl needed was not
there and she died."

It's a spurious allegation since Turpel-Lafond provides no proof that
government inaction or long wait-lists played a role in Staddon's
death. Tasleem Juma, spokeswoman for Fraser Health Authority, says a
number of government agencies were providing the teen and family
services over a number of years. And, while the average wait-time for
a youth to access an addiction treatment bed is six weeks, in a crisis
the health authority can get them instant access to a bed in the
Vancouver Coastal Health region - there is virtually no wait.

Turpel-Lafond says her office was also working with the family to find
the teen treatment. Where? What treatment facility was she
wait-listed? For how long? The normally details-oriented Turpel-Lafond
fails to provide specifics.

Instead, she delivers a self-serving damnation of the system. If her
office was working with the Staddons, does it not share some
responsibility in failing the family?

Government should not be expected to protect youth from drug
overdoses. To do so would require an ever-more powerful and oppressive
government.

Brent Stafford is a veteran television producer and marketing 
specialist. His company ShakyEgg.com works in the brand, entertainment 
and resource space.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt