Pubdate: Wed, 07 Dec 2016 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2016 Times Colonist Contact: http://www.timescolonist.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Author: Carole James (Carole James is the MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill.) Page: A11 PROVINCE MUST ACT IMMEDIATELY ON DRUG OVERDOSES Drug overdoses have claimed a record number of lives in British Columbia already this year, but the B.C. government continues to fail to provide adequate, accessible pathways to treatment for people and families desperately seeking mental health and addiction services. We've been horrified at the deadly spike in fatal overdoses, and equally frustrated that government has failed to deliver services and access to treatment beds and recovery supports as the crisis has deepened. Recently, I joined New Democrat Opposition Leader John Horgan and my colleagues Rob Fleming and Selina Robinson to meet families and advocacy organizations on Vancouver Island to discuss the scope of the problem and where we need to act first. It has become painfully obvious over the past couple of years that our response and treatment systems are woefully inadequate. We've called on the premier to take two immediate steps: * Meet her 2013 election commitment to open 500 additional addiction-treatment beds before 2017. The B.C. government has missed deadlines for the past three years, and as a result, more than 60 per cent of the promised addiction-treatment spaces remain unopened. * License the ownership of pill presses and tablet machines. Similar legislation is already in effect in Alberta, and was proposed by New Democrats in the legislature this spring. Those struggling with addictions are our mothers and fathers, our daughters and sons. Addictions do not discriminate based on income, gender or family background. It's essential that we provide a full range of services, supports and prevention programs. Research has shown a much stronger rate of success when addiction services focus on the four-pillars approach: harm reduction, prevention, treatment and enforcement. One of those pillars is being added to the supports in our city. Island Health recently announced three supervised safe-consumption sites in Victoria, and I encourage everyone to participate in the consultation process. There is much to be learned from safe-consumption facilities such as Insite in Vancouver. Over the past 13 years, Insite has saved countless lives. It has succeeded in preventing death and the spread of disease. It has provided those it serves with the ability to access health care, treatment, recovery services and the chance to live another day. In Victoria, we need these services, along with more addiction beds, treatment and recovery services, and immediate improvements to mental-health supports. As this crisis deepens, our community resources are being stretched to their limits as caring organizations are doing their best to respond. We are so fortunate to have amazing not-for-profits working hard, but I hear heartbreaking stories from families and individuals who have exhausted their financial and emotional resources trying to find help, facing wait lists or closed doors, often with tragic consequences. That simply isn't good enough. If our province were facing any other health crisis with the numbers we are seeing today, there would be immediate action to address it. It is long past time to recognize the need to address the health crisis of addictions. Lives are being lost every day, and we must do all we can to act. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt