WE NEED COMPASSIONATE P3S FOR THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE

When we consider public-private partnerships (P3s) in British
Columbia, we usually think of rapid transit lines, bridges and
economic infrastructure.

We don't normally associate P3s with things like drug addiction and
mental illness on the Downtown Eastside. But we should.

Similarly, when we consider private involvement in health care, we
usually think user fees or for-profit clinics. We don't normally
associate private health care investment with helping the most
vulnerable in society. But we should.

Corporate social responsibility is not something new to Vancouver. In
fact, you could argue our business community has led the way. There
are many examples of compassionate public-private-partnerships
happening in B.C. now -- particularly related to construction of
social housing.

Over the past three years, Vancouver has witnessed a historic scaling
up of housing supply to meet our urgent homelessness need. For
addiction we need to see the same scaling up of resources to meet
demand. System capacity is severely lacking and another compassionate
P3 should be part of the solution.

In a recent Vancouver Sun column, Stephen Hume suggested the
homelessness catastrophe in Vancouver stems not so much from the
recent cold temperatures as from the collective enduring coldness of
Vancouver citizens. This opinion represents a challenge to all of us
- -- individuals, businesses and government.

One year ago in the speech from the throne, the provincial government
promised to complete a new 10-year mental health plan to meet the
needs of our neighbours with complex physical, mental and addiction
care needs. Today, the 10-year plan is one of the many important
priorities being considered for next week's budget.

If the provincial government delivers on a comprehensive mental
health plan and a research agenda focused on the growing number of
people diagnosed with concurrent disorders, Vancouver's private
sector should step up to the plate, too.

In addition to proving Hume wrong, we can complete a compassionate P3
that will change our city forever and set an example for the world
when it lands here a year from now.

Among other things, a properly funded 10-year strategy can expand
clinical research and continue the development of innovative
treatment models for the most vulnerable in the Downtown Eastside and
across the province.

The plan should also include the creation of an International Centre
of Excellence in Addiction and Concurrent Disorders -- as proposed by
top researchers at the University of British Columbia.

The UBC centre would facilitate innovate applied research trials and
follow-up on the recently completed North American Opiate Medication
Initiative (NAOMI) that found promising results with substitution
treatment and heroin maintenance.

It would also provide a valuable outlet for the private sector to
make direct contributions to effective, cutting-edge treatment solutions.

Given the economic crisis, governments are rightfully taking a harder
look at bottom lines and considering innovation. It is a time for
considering strategic options based on best practices and changing
approaches that are not working. The status quo is not an option.

Addiction and mental illness are the leading cause of combined
disability and death among Canadian women. Youth suffering from
addiction and mental illnesses face high risks of early
disintegration as development problems are often not recognized at an
early stage.

A recent national health report concluded that mental health and
behavioral disorders were responsible for 52 per cent of hospital
stays among homeless people. The most common type of mental health
problem recorded for homeless patients in Canada was substance abuse
(54 per cent.)

A 2005 survey of 1700 homeless in Vancouver found 49 per cent having
an addiction and 23 per cent reported having mental illness.

At St. Paul's Hospital there has been a 30-per-cent increase in the
number of patients entering the emergency room with a mental illness
over the past year. The average patient spends 48 hours in the
emergency room -- and 27 per cent of them are readmitted within a month.

Simon Fraser University research-ers have estimated that the average
B.C. homeless adult with severe addiction and/or mental illness costs
the public system more than $55,000 a year. Provision of adequate
housing and supports is estimated to reduce this cost to $37,000 --
for an annual "cost avoidance" of about $211 million.

And it was one year ago that Vancouver police released a study that
reported 49 per cent of their emergency service calls in the Downtown
Eastside involved people with mental illness or drug addiction.

The bottom line is if our society does not make the investments
required to help people with concurrent disorders then we will pay a
price for another generation.

And while we can measure the financial cost of inaction to government
and society, we will never really be able to calculate the personal
toll on families and human souls.