AMANA HOUSE FOUNDER ANGRY OVER COMMENTS

SERVICES NEEDED: Ada Paschal says it's 'absolutely false' for the
province to say that a long-term residential rehab for women is not
necessary.

The founder and director of Amana House is disturbed about comments
made by the province in an article yesterday about whether New
Brunswick needs a long-term residential rehab centre for women with
addictions.

"When someone says those services are not needed, that's absolutely
false," said Ada Paschal.

She was responding to Bob Jones, a treatment consultant for the
Department of Health and Community Services, who said he wasn't
convinced a long-term residential rehab centre is the solution to what
he described as an increasing demand for programs for women - both in
and out of the justice system.

He said the resources currently available "seem to be at the very
least adequate, if not more."

Ms. Paschal, however, contends "that's totally inaccurate.

"How would they know? They've never run a [long-term residential]
recovery program" for women, she said.

Amana House used to provide a place in Saint John for women with
addictions to live while they took the first steps toward recovery,
but it lost $50,000 in government funding a few years ago and had to
stop accepting overnight clients last summer.

The house now offers only outpatient services.

Ms. Paschal argues that Ridgewood Addiction Services referred women to
Amana House for eight years.

"If there was no need for it, why were they referring?" she
asked.

Between 1986 and 1997, Amana House had 392 admissions, according to
Ms. Paschal. And about 86 per cent of those women had unsuccessfully
tried other short-term recovery programs in the past.

"We're talking about people that need that extra," she
said.

"We're talking about having a place where women can get
well.

"We're talking about a whole resocialization program, not just a place
to hang your hat, not just three hots and a cot."

Ms. Paschal said she still gets women requesting Amana's residential
rehab services. "It's disheartening for me to say: 'No, we can't take
you.'"

The Department of Health and the Solicitor-General's Department are
reviewing the needs of addicted women this summer. Ridgewood Addiction
Services is also taking a closer look at the situation.