TREATMENT CENTRE CLOSURE IS CAUSING CONCERN FOR THE REGION

Citizens across the Northwest are voicing their concerns over the
slated closure of the Atlas addiction treatment centre in Terrace, a
move which will save over $650,000 per year for Northern Health but
one which will have far-reaching impacts on the area's ability to
deal with addiction related problems.

According to former hospital board chair and former Prince Rupert
city councillor Tony Briglio, the decision represents a lack of
understanding between the citizen's needs and the decision-making bodies.

"All of our Northern communities have issues with respect to
addiction, and sure we understand that Northern Health has to balance
their budget, but of all programs and all cuts, this is one that we
in the Northwest see as a big priority. What this closure in Terrace
tells me is that there is little respect for the community's needs
and wishes as articulated within the communities. It's one of these
scenarios where they propose that there is going to be a consultation
process, but consultation needs to be heard," he said.

Many are complaining that decisions such as these are indicative of a
"top-down" approach to governance on the part of the Ministry, which
entirely disregards the needs and concerns of the people who use the
services it provides.

Briglio was also concerned about the proposed decision to treat
patients at the facility in Prince George.

"You put people on a bus to Prince George, and it's a long bus ride
with a lot of stops along the way. There are plenty of opportunities
for people to just get off that bus and get right back into their
addictive behaviour."

Port Edward Mayor Dave MacDonald also expressed concern over the closure.

"Any closure of health services for youth and adults is upsetting.
Our children, instead of being in treatment, are ending up in
incarceration, which to me is just wrong. The more we take out, the
harder we're making it to help our children...We all know the
problems in the area with addiction, whether it be beer or liquor or
drugs, and until we get to the bottom of the problem, taking services
away isn't going to help anyone."

Northern Health has stated that the need for addiction treatment
services will be adequately served by the Nechako facility in Prince
George as well as day programs in Terrace, but many citizens are
concerned that these measures may be inadequate to deal with the
area's addiction problems.

Briglio stressed that drug and alcohol addiction should be treated as
a chronic medical condition rather than as a mental illness or
character defect, and that it is very important that there be
resources in place for dealing with addiction.

"We work very hard at the local level, at the street level, with
respect to trying to deal with alcohol and drug issues on a
counselling basis, and we tend to have those types of supports and
resources in the community. But when the problem gets to the point
where a person needs clinical intervention and care, we fall apart.
There's nothing there."