AUTHORITY SHUT DOWN ADDICTION SERVICES

Re: "VIHA failing addicted, mentally ill," Aug. 24.

Dr. Anthony Barale's refreshingly frank letter identifies once again
an old problem that the Vancouver Island Health Authority tries to
fix with reorganization schemes conceived with little input from the community.

In May 2002, VIHA ceased to fund intensive residential treatment,
claiming that it was unwarranted both clinically and economically. As
a consequence the Victoria Life Enrichment Society, an organization
that provided the only publicly funded intensive residential
treatment on Vancouver Island was no longer funded.

At the time many citizens, including health-care professionals, wrote
letters of support in attempts to save what was seen as an
outstanding program, a claim made even by administrators within VIHA.

The society had been underfunded for years. In the 10 years prior to
2002 there had been no new increases in funding beyond a few
cost-of-living increases. These increases were neutralized by the
fact that the size of the government grant had actually been reduced
over this same period of time. The funding available made it
extremely difficult to provide adequate accommodation for the more
severely afflicted individuals that were being seen.

VIHA proceeded to absorb addiction programs operated by two other
non-profit charitable organizations, the Dallas Society and the Drug
and Alcohol Rehabilitation Society.

In the process the addictions field lost the fundraising capacity of
each of these societies, the contributions of grassroots volunteer
boards, the benefits of programming based more on front-line
experience than political expediency and outlets for service for the
many people in our communities who have a passionate commitment to
seeing the addiction epidemic curtailed.

Dr. Barale's call to the public to raise funds for much needed
addiction resources recognizes that VIHA does not have the resources,
a well-defined system of care or the passion to speak to a problem
that is ultimately ours.

As such we need not only financial resources from the community but
leadership as well.

Dr. Martin B. Spray,

Victoria.

Dr. Spray was executive director of the Victoria Life Enrichment
Society from 1989 to 2003. The society provided publicly funded
intensive residential treatment from 1975 to 2002.