DRUG RECOVERY HOMES OFFER HOPE AND HELP

Re: Badly run drug recovery homes on the rise, health official says, Aug. 10

The portrayal of unlicensed recovery houses as being overcrowded flop
houses, run by untrained people, where drug dealing and use are
rampant is a terrible injustice to the dedicated people who, because
of the support they received to maintain their own recovery from
addictions, volunteer to use their experiences (which is the best
training) to assist other addicts in their recovery. What a tragedy
that there is such overcrowding that results in people sleeping on
couches and mattresses on the floor.

These homes are where there is hope and help for these people with
addictions: not on the streets and in empty lots and back alleys.
Isn't this proof that we need more facilities, not fewer?

The typical recovering addict is 20 to 40 pounds underweight and
needs to replenish his or her body with nutritious food. Does anyone
honestly believe that an individual can be housed and fed for $500 a
month, with money left over for profits? Where are the public funds
to provide safe shelters, programs, housing and support for the
addicts in our city? (It is a fact that there also have been
instances of drug dealing and use in government, licensed facilities.
Like in unlicensed facilities, anyone who uses drugs must leave.)

Myrna Scarff

Langley