THE RIGHT LOCATION

Not in my backyard.

How many times do we hear that tired phrase about anything that
rankles our urban, sophisticated, delicate sensibilities?

A proposed site for Red Deer's first detox centre (4816 - Gaetz
Avenue) has been offered up for public consideration - smack in the
middle of downtown.

Let's face it. It's a sensible choice, as the downtown area of any
city tends to attract the homeless and addicts.

But for some, it's too close for comfort.

An open house this week showed that several nearby business owners
don't agree with the site in an area they say has weathered impacts of
drug-related activity too long.

But as project manager Jim Taylor said, it's the best place for the
centre, which will house 20 intoxicated homeless people overnight.

A drug and alcohol detox program will also be offered.

The centre will also be constantly staffed, the clients can only come
in the back door, and better lighting will discourage illegal activity
in the shadowy back alley.

Retail space has already been set aside at the front of the building
to ensure everything has a tidy, appealing appearance to oblivious
shoppers.

Taylor's arguments make sense, in light of the fact downtown indeed
seems to be the hotspot for drug and liquor.

The centre would not only tackle that growing problem head on, it
would keep these folks off the street - away from further temptation
- - and protected during the winter months.

As Taylor pointed out, it's our "moral obligation" to
help.

Some say other sites are preferable, but where?

Residential areas are obviously out of the question. Industrial areas
on the edges of town aren't feasible either.

Social agencies tend to locate downtown, and it's only logical the
detox centre open its doors there as well.

Unfortunately, the David Thompson Health Region as a whole has the
highest rate in the province for narcotics prescriptions, said Taylor.

Our rates of disturbing the peace and liquor violations is more than
double the provincial average as well.

As to conquering such problems, we're sorely lacking.

Taylor said AADAC programs are much lower here than the provincial
average.

Folks have to go to Calgary or Edmonton for help, and with Red Deer's
increasing population, it's downright irresponsible to be shipping
addicts to either city for assistance.

So it's back to the not in my backyard argument.

What are we saying when we constantly want to push a vulnerable part
of our population away from an area that would serve them best?

Keep these problem people out of sight and out of mind and out of our
lives - please and thank you. Is this the message we're sending?

Thankfully, the generous, essentially accepting people of Red Deer are
above and beyond such ridiculous notions.