TREATMENT CENTRE PLANNED FOR KEREMEOS

A new residential treatment centre opening in the Keremeos area is
good news say those impacted by the project.

"At present I am struggling to find any negatives," said Joe Nitsch,
regional director for rural Keremeos, where the 42-bed centre known
as The Crossing will be located.

The facility, a public-private partnership announced by Health
Minister George Abbott this week, is the first of its kind in the
province where youth will receive long-term residential treatment
for addictions.

Don Duncan, medical director for mental health and addiction with
Interior Health, said while the majority of youth with addictions
require a shorter term treatment, pointing out that IHA recently
added six short-term treatment beds for youth, the option for those
who need a residential program has previously been missing from B.C.

"It is a recognized gap in service," he said, adding that IHA has
seen increased need for youth addictions services.

The Central City Foundation and From Grief to Action, a parent
support and advocacy group, have been working with the province and
health authorities to create the program.

CCF will be donating the 58-acre property and leading the $6 million
fundraising campaign for the facility, while the province will pick
up the $2.4 million operating costs for the facility.

Peter Spencer, a board member with CCF, said the foundation
purchased the property in hopes of "jump-starting" a residential
treatment centre like The Crossing.

Jennifer Johnstone, president of the CCF, said the facility will
provide an intense therapeutic residential community program for
youth ages 14-24 that will include counselling, peer support and
offer schooling. It will allow youth to "live drug free and turn
their lives around," she said.

Keremeos was the right area for the facility because of its
"tranquil and therapeutic" location in a mountainous valley, located
next to the Similkameen River .

"There is a long history of the natural environment as a place for
healing and recovery," said Johnstone, adding that the centre also
takes youth out of urban centres, but is still accessible for families.

While Johnstone said she recognizes that the surrounding community
might have some concerns about the centre, the Portage Program for
Drug Dependencies, the agency hired to run the facility has a proven
track record.

"It's a proven system that has been going on for more than 20
years," agreed Nitsch, who along with other local politicians met
with civic leaders from Ontario and Quebec where Portage operates
similar programs.

An initial concern, that Nitsch expects some residents will share,
is that the program might bring drugs or drug users into the
community. However, because the program is voluntary, people who are
taking part want to improve their lives and can leave anytime.

"These people want to change their life in a positive way," he said,
adding that the other communities also did not see additional
stresses on their local health care system as a result of the programs.

In contrast, Nitsch said the program has had positive economic
benefits on other areas where it has operated, as the facility will
bring in as many as 20 professional staff who may live in the area.
Renovation of the centre, which is expected to be completed by next
summer, will also provide jobs in the community.

Similkameen residents will be able to find out more about the centre
at an upcoming public meeting. A date has yet to be set.