ADDICTION GROUPS LAUD BUDGET BOOST

But Opposition Decries Liberal Strategy

VANCOUVER (BC) -- People who work with drug addicts welcomed the B.C.
government's decision to add another $8-million a year to addiction
services for young people, including $2-million aimed at the growing
problem of crystal meth.

But the Opposition, while pleased with the extra funds, criticized
the Liberals for taking a crisis-management approach and leaving the
province behind Alberta when it comes to the number of treatment beds.

Health Minister George Abbott announced yesterday that the money will
be divided among the regional health authorities, with the largest
chunks going to the Vancouver and Fraser Valley health regions.

Most of the funds will go toward bolstering services for all kinds of
addictions, but the government is singling out crystal meth as a
serious problem, especially among young people.

The drug, mostly cooked up in clandestine labs using over-the-counter
cold medications and toxic chemicals, is cheap and provides a
long-lasting buzz.

The money will be used to help intervene with occasional users,
provide additional detox beds, support for addicts' families and
research into the overall crystal meth problem.

Mr. Abbott said the number of treatment beds available for young
addicts once the money is in place will rise to about 158 beds
provincewide from the current 106, out of 1,038 treatment beds overall.

NDP Leader Carole James said she's happy to see more dollars go
toward treatment beds but renewed her party's criticism of the
government's strategy. "Alberta has just over 1,000 beds and we have
25 per cent more population base than Alberta," she said. "It shows
the government's playing catch-up."

The Liberals knew from the work of local agencies that the additional
beds should have been in place last year, she said.

But Mr. Abbott and local addiction-treatment workers stressed
treatment beds are just part of the equation.

"The beds are just a small part of what youth are asking for," said
Kathy Snowden, head of the Vancouver Boys and Girls Club addiction
program. "They're needing outreach workers, counsellors and
semi-independent living arrangements."

The approaches Vancouver uses include four levels of withdrawal
management, outpatient treatment and detox in the home.

Ms. James said she approves of the multipronged approach of detox and
support but blames Liberal cuts to community support services for
making it harder for addicts to change their lives.

Still, former crystal meth addict David Mcaleese said the new money
for treatment beds and support services "will help immensely."