COMMUNITIES FACE TO FACE WITH ADDICTION PROBLEMS

Two facts have emerged from the recent controversy surrounding addiction
services in Chilliwack's downtown: The service is necessary, wanted and
welcome. And that more work must be done to find a suitable location.

These two points, particularly the latter, are now getting the attention
they deserve. The necessity of appropriate addiction services is not a new
concept. Progressive communities have long realized that the provision of
such a service offers long term benefits on a number of levels. From a
purely practical standpoint, it makes sense to ensure the dangers
associated with intravenous drug use are minimized. If just one case of HIV
can be avoided through the provision of clean needles, the health care
system is saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in future costs.

Also, if the counselling and care offered by the service can dissuade
individuals from continuing their risky lifestyle, then again the community
is saved money.

Then there are the more humanitarian arguments. To abandon individuals who
have fallen victim to substance abuse seems a bit Darwinian. Individuals
make bad choices every day, but we do not punish those indiscretions with
rejection, nor do we choose not to treat injuries based on the choices made.

Too often we treat addiction like the army once treated "battle fatigue" -
as a weakness not worthy of concern. In fact, addiction is complex, and our
response needs to be as multi-faceted. Street-level care and outreach is
just one component of that response.

The challenge with such frontline services, however, has always been to
find a location. That location must do two things: It must be accessible to
the people it is meant to serve; and it must be acceptable to the
neighbourhood in which it is situated.

Certainly it would be easy to locate the service in some abandoned
industrial park. But it would not be used.

Similarly, locating it in the midst of established business presents
challenges. These kinds of services work best when they are discrete. And
that discretion is difficult to maintain when there is fear and concern
from neighbouring businesses because their livelihood is being threatened
by the people the facility attracts.

The Fraser Health Authority is currently undertaking a two-month review to
help find a suitable location for the service. The FHA understands that for
the service to be successful it must have support - not just in broad
philosophical terms, but also in practice. That support will only come
through education and consultation.

The stakes are high, but the FHA appears committed to reaching a consensus,
and that's good news for the community - Chilliwack Progress