ADDICTION TREATMENT: DELAYS ANGER COUNCIL, TRUSTEES

Fraser Health Officials Say They Weren't Aware Of Repeated Requests
For Meetings With The Township.

Repeated no-shows by the Fraser Health Authority have delayed a
decision on drug treatment for Langley teenagers, and angered both
Township Council and Langley School Board.

In January, the school board voted to ask the Township for financial
help launching the Day, Evening and Weekend for Youth (DEWY) program.

Township councillors were reluctant to jump into a financial
commitment without more information, and the head of the DEWY program
in New Westminster spoke with council.

Coun. Charlie Fox said the program is now only available in New
Westminster, though it was run as a pilot program in Langley in 2004.

Teenagers from Langley can only access the intensive, 35-hour-a-week
program if they can cross the Fraser River every day. That just isn't
possible for many kids from Langley, Fox noted.

Councillors decided to ask the FHA for information about drug
strategies south of the Fraser River.

The FHA has since made - and cancelled - two appointments to meet
with Township Council.

"This has taken so long, we're now looking at next year's budget,"
said Coun. Jordan Bateman.

The Township still needs more information, Bateman said, because it
can't just jump into funding a program without knowing what else is going on.

"It's pretty shocking behaviour from the Ministry [of Health]," said
school board chair Steve Burton.

At Tuesday's board meeting, Burton lashed out at the health
authorities for delaying any resolution, positive or negative.

"A no would be an answer," Burton said. "The silence is deafening."

The board had wanted to start the DEWY program in September, and the
lack of any regional response is frustrating, he said.

However, when the FHA was contacted by the Langley Advance, spokesman
Michael Bernard said none of the appropriate people were aware of any meetings.

Neither Andy Libbiter, who handles mental health in Langley, nor Lois
Dixon, the FHA's executive director for mental health and addictions,
were aware of the Township's information needs, said Bernard.

"I don't know," Bernard said, when asked why they weren't informed.

However, he said both would be pleased to meet with the Township soon
to discuss drug treatment in general or DEWY in particular.

According to Fox and Bateman, the FHA has told Council it can't talk
about regional drug programs because it's still working on its budget.

Neither councillor believes that that is a good reason for the delay.

The two councillors will bring a notice of motion forward to next
week's meeting, resolving to send a letter of support in principle to
the school board.

Bateman said Township Council wants the board to know it not been
forgotten over the past six months.

The letter and another request for the meeting will also be sent to
the FHA, if the motion passes.

Fox said that drug prevention and rehabilitation need to be planned
on a regional basis, with schools, municipalities, and the health
authorities working together.

"We want them to step up to the table," Fox said.