C.B. DETOX HELP ON THE WAY

Authorities Promise Program Aimed At Weaning Addicts Off Variety Of Drugs

SYDNEY - Getting into detox is proving to be very difficult for some drug
addicts in Cape Breton, but help is on the way.

John Malcom, chief executive officer of the Cape Breton district health
authority, said that within a month, a daytime detox program will be
offered to help wean addicts off prescription drugs as as well as illicit
drugs such as cocaine, crack and heroin.

The prescription drug OxyContin has been a particular problem and has been
linked to a rash of crime and one sudden death in the Sydney area and
another sudden death on the South Shore.

The new program comes less than a year after the authority axed its
residential program for people who had completed detox but still required
support. A day clinic is now in place for them.

"Over the last number of years, we've seen a declining use of the
residential program," Mr. Malcom said.

"And we think by moving to a day program, we can offer it to more
communities; we may have more people take advantage of it," he said.

Joan Jessome, president of the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union, said
there's 47 people on a waiting list for one of the 30 beds at detox centres.

Another 30 people are waiting to be accepted into the Halifax-based
methadone program, something she says is unacceptable.

"We told you not to do away with the 28-day program, but you didn't
listen," Ms. Jessome told Mr. Malcom at a public meeting in Glace Bay
earlier this week, which attracted 150 residents concerned about the
growing problem of prescription drug abuse.

"This province is guilty of having the ostrich syndrome," she said, adding
"Get the heads stuck in the sand out."

She said there's plenty of money provided by the province, but resources
are not being allocated wisely to tackle drug abuse and crime.

Recovering drug addict Eric Thompson said drug addicts need to be separated
from society and the people who encourage bad habits.

Mr. Thompson got off drugs by moving out of Cape Breton for treatment and
staying away until he was strong enough to return.

"I know they have day programs but I can't see them working," he said. "If
I was going out for a day (detox), I never would have made it, I know that.
. Once you're let out, you're going to go right back into what got you
there in the first place."

Mr. Malcom said studies have shown there's no difference in outcomes
between residential and outpatient addiction services.

The authority now uses methadone, a strong painkiller, in its in-patient
detox program, which has 20 beds in Sydney and 10 in the Port Hawkesbury
area, Mr. Malcom said.

"It is a way of getting people off opiates, so we do offer methadone," he said.

And a proposal is the works to offer a methadone maintenance program in the
area.

The drug is commonly used to help addicts because it doesn't provide a high
but helps relieve severe withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, shaking,
sweats, painful muscle cramps, diarrhea and vomiting.

In the meantime, patients will have to be assessed for the new day program
when it begins before any structured treatment can be prescribed. Full
details are expected to be made public in a couple of weeks.