LLOYDMINSTER DETOX SHORTAGE PROMPTS LEGISLATURE DEBATE

As the Walter A. Slim Thorpe detox centre denies requests for help on a
daily basis due to a lack of beds, Opposition MLAs are raising the issue in
the Alberta Legislature.

Lloydminster Meridian Booster - As the Walter A. Slim Thorpe detox centre
denies requests for help on a daily basis due to a lack of beds, Opposition
MLAs are raising the issue in the Alberta Legislature.

"A Lloydminster detox centre admitted that it had turned away 90 patients
last month," said Liberal Laurie Blakeman during question period this past
Thursday. "How does the government justify huge liquor sales profits while
people with addictions go untreated?"

The government receives $588 million from liquor and related revenue, but
spends only $48 million to directly treat addiction, according to Blakeman.
Premier Ralph Klein contested Blakeman's assessment of the numbers.

"Taxes for liquor go into general revenues and are used for a multitude of
services including services for those suffering addictions," replied Klein.
"I can tell you where $7.2 billion dollars of that money went. It went to
health care generally."

Slim Thorpe hopes to get a little more of that revenue in the new fiscal
year beginning April 1.

The facility currently offers a total of six detox beds, four of which are
funded equally by the Alberta and Saskatchewan governments.

Slim Thorpe director Craig Featherstone is lobbying for $20,000 from each
province to provide another two publicly funded beds. The facility's total
budget, including both public and private funding, is about $1.3 million
per year.

In February the detox centre turned away more than 90 requests for help
because beds were already full. Featherstone says the centre is on pace for
similar numbers in March.

"Two more beds could help another 100 people a year," said Featherstone.

The Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission is aware of the pressure on
Slim Thorpe's detox centre. AADAC program consultant Marcy Dibbs says the
Lloydminster facility operates at about 88 per cent capacity. Detox centres
in Edmonton and Calgary run at about 80 per cent.

"When there are new developments we certainly keep an eye on it," she said.
"(But) there's no guarantee of a funding solution."

Dibbs says facilities usually need to make funding requests a year in advance.

Government needs to make that funding more readily available, according to
Opposition members.

Blakeman says the government itself is addicted to the revenue it receives
from alcohol, tobacco and gambling, while doing too little to help those
struggling with addiction.

"We have to tie revenue to funding for treatment," she said. "More money
for the government equals more people with problems."