TREATMENT CENTRE'S CLOSURE AN OUTRAGE

The stories are everywhere - alcohol use is a growing problem in our
society; drug and alcohol abuse costs governments untold amounts of
money.

Yet, in Kamloops, a treatment centre with a respectable track record
will close in a few days because of a lack of funding.

Kiwanis House is a residential facility that has operated in Kamloops
for 37 years, helping people beat drug or alcohol addictions. It's run
by a non-profit society and until last year was funded by the Health
Ministry.

In one of many changes implemented by Interior Health Authority, which
oversees all health care in the B.C. Interior, Kiwanis funding was
reduced to three beds. The remaining 18 beds are for private paying
clients.

The change occurred after the Kiwanis board refused an IH request that
it become a supportive housing facility, which offers little or no
treatment services, for people in recovery. It also called for a
harm-reduction model, which doesn't evict people if they slip and use
their drug of choice - not onsite.

The Kiwanis board was intent upon continuing its mandate to help
people kick their addictions, and using a zero-tolerance approach
toward drugs and alcohol.

Kiwanis House residents know that any use of drugs or booze will cost
them their place in the program.

It's unfortunate Interior Health officials could not see the benefit
in providing full funding to Kiwanis House as a treatment facility. In
fact, it's an outrage, as well as being seriously short-sighted.

The health authority maintains that Crossroads, a treatment centre in
Kelowna, is coping with demands for treatment. Crossroads is a
harm-reduction facility, meaning people can remain even if they are
under the influence of a drug.

By allowing Kiwanis House to close as well as suggesting one
residential facility in Kelowna is enough for the region, health
officials are not accepting addiction is a disease.

People who abuse drugs at the risk of their families, jobs and lives
are not making a choice. They are suffering from a serious,
life-threatening illness. The public still doesn't accept that. They
prefer to condemn and criticize drug abusers and alcoholics. They
would rather put addicts in jail than rehabilitate them through
treatment programs.

Governments, by not ensuring facilities meet the demand for treatment,
give weight to that wrong-headed mentality. Yet, millions of dollars
in legal and health costs alone could be saved if this disease was
given the attention it deserves.

People are ready to call the police if they see an addict dealing
drugs to another addict on the street, but they stay silent when an
important treatment like Kiwanis House is allowed to close from lack
of funding.

Let's get sensible for a change and push government to treat the root
of the problem rather than use up all the resources on the
consequences of addictions.