TREATMENT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY

Lunch with a colleague in Prince George led me to an interesting
paper published by the B.C. Ministry of Health Services, entitled
"Every Door is the Right Door" (May 2004).

An opening quote in this document reads: "Dedicated to individuals,
families and stakeholders who have made it clear to us that every
door must be the right door. Wherever people seek help they will be
treated respectfully and supported to access the services they need."
(Honourable Susan Brice, Minister of State for Mental Health and
Addiction Services)

This paper is an exhaustive framework for dealing with the challenges
of addictions and mental health from Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
to Concurrent Disorders identified in the DSM IV.

It clearly identifies the need for a client addressing substance
abuse or mental health issues to get the help they require, when they
require it.

This should be a continuum of care whether the person comes in
through a medical practitioner, a mental health counselor or from the
legal system.

The system has been set up with a labyrinth of barriers. To obtain
help for a client, one must run the gauntlet of frustration. One
doctor writes in the winter 2005 edition of Visions (a B.C. health
and addiction journal): "If addiction is considered a bona fide
health disorder, we could be accused of violating the Canada Health
Act by failing to provide adequate treatment for people with
addictions and by permitting barriers to treatment, such as user fees
for residential treatment and methadone maintenance programs."

The myriad of services offered by the health authorities in B.C.
should be available to each and every individual seeking help.

Financial constraints, user fees for treatment and the inability of
clients being able to receive assistance when they require it, should
not be permitted in this wealthy country of ours.

If someone seeks medical or psychiatric intervention, be it the
client or the referral agency, doors should be swinging open. The
monies should be available.

It should not matter which department of the government foots the
bill. There is a small window of opportunity when a client says, "I'm
ready." If the help is not available at that time, we may be visiting
him/her on a slab in the morgue.

Your comments are appreciated.