BADLY RUN DRUG RECOVERY HOMES ON THE RISE, HEALTH OFFICIAL SAYS

Liberals' Deregulation Killed Costly Process That Tracked Services

Unlicensed and poorly run drug and alcohol recovery homes are a large
and growing problem in the Lower Mainland -- with allegations of
everything from poor living conditions to drug-dealing on site,
according to the manager of addiction programs for Fraser Health.

"Some of the complaints I get are about drug dealing in these
houses," said Sherry Mumford. "There's been overcrowding. . . . Some
places there's no food, some places youth and adults are together in
a house. . . . There's been allegations of intimidation and violence
in houses. You name it."

Dr. John Blatherwick, chief medical health officer for Vancouver
Coastal Health, said similar concerns have been raised about
unlicensed recovery homes in that region.

In 1998, after concerns were raised about shoddy standards in private
recovery homes, the NDP government required all such facilities to be
licensed -- which forced the homes to undergo inspections and meet
minimum standards.

But in 2002, the Liberals de-regulated the industry -- which meant
most recovery homes no longer required a licence.

Sarah Plank, a spokeswoman with the Ministry of Health, said the
decision was made in part because some smaller homes found the
licensing process too costly and onerous.

Mumford said she estimates there are now about 150 unlicensed
recovery homes in the Fraser Health region alone.

Some of those facilities do a good job, said Mumford, but many do not
- -- since virtually anyone can rent a house and start advertising
themselves as a recovery home. "There's been a lack of skills and
training to deal with a lot of the complex issues," she said. "This
is about protecting an extremely vulnerable population."

Mumford said drug addicts who come directly to Fraser Health for help
are referred to one of a small number of drug-treatment facilities
that are licensed by the health authority and subject to inspections.

Those facilities are typically paid about $2,200 a month by the
health authority to care for their clients -- with a typical stay
lasting 90 days.

In contrast, unlicensed facilities usually rely solely on their
clients' welfare cheques for income -- which can be as little as $510 a month.

Plank said the government is looking at forcing all recovery homes to
be registered with the province -- which would require them to meet
at least some minimum standards.

In the meantime, some municipalities have tried to control the growth
of unlicensed recovery homes through zoning bylaws.

In June, Surrey's bylaw office wrote to Cornerstone Manor -- a
three-house recovery facility in north Surrey -- demanding it cease
operations because it is in a residential area that does not permit
such a business.

"We've had ongoing problems with that facility, probably since 1998,"
said Mayor Dianne Watts.

There was no answer at Cornerstone Manor Wednesday.

Watts estimated there are probably 20 to 25 unlicensed recovery homes
in Surrey.

"We've got individuals that are setting up recovery houses with no
background, that are housing 30, 35 people in one house," she said.
"We've got people detoxing on the floor and sleeping on mattresses on
the floor with half a dozen other people."

Watts said the province needs to do more to ensure such facilities
are well-run. "There's an absolute need in the community for this
service," she said.