A DREAM TO GIVE DRUG ADDICTS NEW HOPE

MLA Wants Former Army Barracks To Mimic Italian Success Story

Vancouver MLA Lorne Mayencourt wants to turn a former army barracks
near Prince George into a cutting-edge community for drug addicts and
alcoholics.

To be called New Hope, the 65-hectare community would house 100
people in a long-term-recovery program that could last years.

It's based on an Italian model that has treated more than 20,000
addicts and has a 72-per-cent success rate.

B.C.'s addicts usually get one week of detox and 28 days of
treatment, then are back on the street. But 85 per cent relapse
within the first 30 days.

The Italian model has a high success rate because people not only
kick the habit but also turn their lives around.

"I'm not entirely satisfied with what we do now, and I think we can
do much better," Mayencourt told The Province from Prince Rupert.

"The therapeutic community model that we're looking at in Italy has
some real great opportunities here in B.C."

New Hope members would get addictions treatment, therapeutic support
and learn new work skills to turn their lives around.

"You spend some time exploring who you are as a person," said
Mayencourt, who has visited the San Patrignano community on the
Adriatic. Its 2,200 recovering addicts live there for three to five years.

"When they leave, they have a fighting chance to make it."

Prince George city councillor Murry Krause, who has worked in local
addiction services for 12 years, is keen to consider Mayencourt's plan.

"This is an idea that's worth exploring," he said. "We've got to be
thinking outside the box, and certainly we've got to explore every option."

Mayencourt is currently promoting the concept in northern B.C. towns,
such as Terrace, Smithers, Burns Lake and Dawson Creek.

"I want to create a good deal of awareness about this as a treatment
option for British Columbians," he said. "It's not going to happen
unless the communities of this province say it's a good idea."

The property, which in recent years has been used as a resort,
includes a 15-room inn, restaurant, gymnasium, bowling alley and fire
hall. But it needs a medical centre.

Mayencourt has talked to the Edmonton owners and they're willing to
lease it for three years.

Now he needs $150,000 in the first year to get it up and running. It
costs about $15,000 a year for each resident.

It will be privately funded, and generate revenues from its own
enterprises. Mayencourt hasn't ruled out asking for government funding later.

Mayencourt has enlisted the support of Prince George Mayor Colin
Kinsley, and he's organizing a roundtable in the city in September.

He figures half the residents will come from the Northern Health
Authority, with the balance from the rest of B.C.

Donald MacPherson, Vancouver's drug policy co-ordinator, called it "a
compelling idea," but added it's not for everyone.

"It would be a welcome addition to the array of options that we have
for people," he said. "They learn craftsmanship or trades, and come
out with much more than just drug treatment."

"Very few people can take that amount of time out of their lives, and
most people would not need that duration of time away from their own
community," he said.