RICHMOND ADDICTS SHOULD BE TREATED CLOSE TO HOME

The shame of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside continually reinforces the
critical need for new addiction recovery services throughout the Lower
Mainland and across our province. In particular, services that help
women with addictions recover in a safe, supportive facility in their
own community.

The City of Richmond is currently reviewing one such proposal,
prepared by Turning Point Recovery Society -- a proposal under attack
by a Richmond opposition with the angry name NIABY ("not in anyone's
backyard").

NIABY refuses to acknowledge the urgent need for recovery services in
Richmond and is waging a misinformation campaign against Turning Point
and all persons afflicted with the disease of addiction.

Why does Richmond need Turning Point? Today, Richmond women suffering
from the disease of addiction -- women wanting to build a better life
for themselves and their families -- are forced to go to Vancouver,
Surrey or elsewhere for treatment. There are no recovery beds in
Richmond to help them.

Strangely, this is not the case for men. Which begs a timely question:
Why are women with addiction problems treated like second-class citizens?

As president of the Richmond Women's Resource Centre, I know the
situation first hand. Last year we helped over 4,600 women in Richmond
with everything from spousal violence, to homelessness and drug
addictions, with very scarce resources.

It is difficult enough for women with substance abuse problems to get
the help they need, particularly women with limited means and limited
child-care options. Relocating them to another community is a major
road block to recovery that many women are simply not able to overcome.

Women referred to treatment and fortunate enough to stay on the
waitlist and get a bed often have to make a difficult choice: Leave
their community, find a temporary home for their children and take the
treatment bed, or forego the bed and continue the cycle of addiction.

With funding from the provincial government's affordable housing
strategy, Turning Point's proposed facility would be located in
Richmond on a half-acre lot on Ash Street with two 10-bed residences
- -- one dedicated to women and one dedicated to men.

The proposal also calls for an affordable housing residence for 12
persons that will contain 10 small suites on the same property, up to
four of them devoted to serving mothers with infants. Additionally,
there will be one two-bedroom suite that will be devoted to serving a
mother with a young child or children.

Richmond needs this facility. The city must take responsibility and
stop exporting citizens who suffer from addictions to other
municipalities. After all, women in the Downtown Eastside weren't born
in the Downtown Eastside -- they come from communities throughout
B.C., including Richmond.

This sad reality was substantiated in a 2004 report issued by the City
of Richmond's Substance Abuse Task Force, a group made up of community
groups and subject matter experts including the RCMP, Richmond Health
Services and SUCCESS. The report, endorsed by Richmond City Council,
states:

"Richmond agencies regularly refer those seeking treatment to
facilities and services in Vancouver. This can complicate the problem
for the addicts/substance abusers as they are frequently thrust into
the harsher and more hostile environment of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside."

That's why NIABY's misinformation campaign against Turning Point --
and its political blackmail of Richmond City Council -- is so
shameful. The disease of addiction affects men and women, all races
and socioeconomic groups. It can even affect the sons and daughters of
NIABY supporters.

Do we not have a social and moral responsibility to help the most
vulnerable citizens in our own community?

Or have these women and men been marginalized to the point that they
no longer matter?

Richmond women deserve to be treated in Richmond. Their families
deserve to be by their side throughout the treatment process.

It is incumbent upon Richmond City Council to do the right thing for
all members of our community and support Richmond women and families
in their fight against addiction. They deserve nothing less.

De Whalen is president of the Richmond Women's Resource Centre.