DAY TREATMENT FOR ADDICTS PLANNED FOR FALL

Dear Editor:

Your story, Lookout Shelter Always Full (North Shore News, July 17) points
to the critical need for addiction services on the North Shore. The North
Shore Task Force on Substance Abuse has been working closely with Vancouver
Coastal Health, and has recently secured funding to develop and open
day-treatment programs right here on the North Shore.

The program is intended for youth and adults, and will include strong
outreach. Its staff will work in the field- - at the Lookout Shelter, for
example - as well as within a facility that is being renovated right now.

Barnabas Walther, director of mental health for the North Shore Coast
Garibaldi region, is ensuring that community partners are involved in
designing the new day-treatment program. We met for the first time last
week, and we will include the Lookout Shelter at this stage in the planning.

The day-treatment program is also part of a comprehensive "shared care"
approach. This means that North Shore clients will be able to access
critical services that are available in Vancouver, in a timely manner, to
follow up on the treatment they will receive here at home.

The day-treatment program will not be operating until late fall 2005. The
Task Force on Substance Abuse and the health region are planning a formal
announcement in September.

As well, health funding now provides part-time, on-site staff to help
address mental health and addictions issues at the North Shore Youth Safe
House.

Thank you for drawing attention to the dire need for treatment services for
addictions on the North Shore. West Vancouver District, North Vancouver
District, North Vancouver City, Lions Bay, Bowen Island, Squamish First
Nation and school districts 44 and 45 recognize this.

We continue to work on prevention, law enforcement and harm-reduction
initiatives, in a concerted, community-based effort to address the life
damaging effects of substance abuse, and the far reaching social costs.

Coun. Pam Goldsmith-Jones, West Vancouver District

Coun. Maureen McKeon Holmes, North Vancouver

District Co-chairwomen

North Shore Task Force on Substance Abuse