ADDICTIONS OFFICE EXPANDING SERVICES

What exactly is addiction service-on-demand?

Maple Ridge Mayor Gordon Robson promised on-demand drug treatment
programs within a month of being elected into office.

On Monday, he said, those programs will be in place. But what will
they look like?

Alouette Addictions Services executive director Ron Lawrence said
on-demand treatment is better termed on-demand-information.

Anyone suffering an addiction can pick up the phone and call his
office.

At once, he said, they'll find help.

"There is going to be a centralized location for information.

"You won't have to think about who to call."

Whether the help required involves a trip to detox, one-on-one
counselling, family counselling or help meeting the basics, like food
and shelter, Lawrence said counsellors will do their best to provide
it.

The purpose of Alouette's new on-demand addiction services is simple,
said the centre's prevention co-ordinator Robb McGirr.

"It means that when someone needs help, they're not going to be put on
a two-week wait list."

When asked whether the services will be there as soon as they're
needed, Robson said they must be.

"When someone in this town raises his hand and has a crystal meth
problem, Mr. Lawrence's crew will be on hand, and if necessary, will
find the right treatment.

"Will we be overwhelmed? I'm not sure, but we have no
choice."

At this moment, the mayor added, people are getting beds in detox
within a day or two of asking for help.

But that's not good enough, he continued.

"We've got to make that shorter and be more responsible."

If the counsellors at Alouette find themselves overburdened by clients
needing immediate drug treatment, Robson said the district will just
have to pull together and fill those needs.

"We will create more service - we don't have a choice. These are our
kids, they're our neighbours. We have no choice."

To help meet the expected demand for service, Lawrence has hired a
director of clinical services with expertise in adolescent clinical
psychology. The new expert, he said, will start Dec. 20.

In the meantime, Lawrence will start a drop-in program beginning at 10
a.m. on Monday.

As for providing on-demand-detox, McGirr said most often, it is just
not feasible.

Many clients who are contemplating leaving their addiction behind may
not be at the stage where they can enter detox.

"If somebody comes in for help we have to find out what it is they're
looking for and what help they need.

"It's not just 'Bang' you're in treatment," McGirr
said.

In many cases, he added, before heading off for treatment, more
pressing concerns have to be addressed.

Maybe a client needs to find childcare or is more concerned about
putting food in the cupboard before she can even get to detox, he said.

That's where the drop-in program comes in, McGirr explained.
Counsellors can assess a clients' needs and make small steps toward
getting them into rehab.

Another component of the program is to work with other agencies,
including the RCMP and the hospital, to make certain those with
addictions are offered the help they need.

In the past, said Lawrence, there has been too much overlap and too
little communication between agencies. All of this result in gaps in
service, he said.

"We're just trying to design this in a way that the resources are used
in the best way they can be."

Sometimes, he added, the hardest thing to do is open the door and ask
for help.

And for those people, he said, just pick up the phone.

Alouette Addictions can be reached at 467-5179. To visit the office,
head to 22477 Lougheed Hwy.