MLA PROPOSES REHAB CENTRE

Addiction Centre Posited For Central Interior

The MLA known for tackling aggressive panhandling and bullying in
schools says he has found a solution to drug addiction far from the
high-rises of his West End riding, and he's on a whirlwind tour of
B.C. to promote it.

"I'm in Vanderhoof, no wait, I'm in Smithers now," said
Vancouver-Burrard MLA Lorne Mayencourt, before stopping in Prince
George and heading to Cranbrook and Nelson.

He says he's had a favourable reception so far to his proposal for
"New Hope," a proposed addiction treatment retreat on a former
Canadian Forces radar station 30 km southwest of Prince George. That
includes the nearest city, which has more than its share of drug and
alcohol problems as the regional health centre for the entire north of
the province.

"It's had some preliminary support, certainly the three MLAs, Shirley
Bond, John Rustad and Pat Bell, but also Mayor Colin Kinsley,"
Mayencourt said. "We had a great meeting a few weeks back, and one of
the outcomes of that meeting was that we would set up a round table in
Prince George, that would accommodate the public."

The New Hope approach is based on a successful addiction treatment
community in San Patrignano, Italy, which gives participants a home,
work and treatment for up to five years. Mayencourt says he's been
told by addiction specialists that between two and three years is optimum.

The current B.C. program consists of three to 10 days of detox,
followed by a 28-day program. Mayencourt says it's not working, with
85 per cent of participants back "drinking or drugging" within 30
days, and nowhere is the failure more evident than places like Prince
Rupert or Terrace where there are no detox facilities.

"People have to travel to Prince George just for the detox, and
sometimes when they're on the bus there, they get off the bus, because
they changed their mind," he said.

While some of his fellow B.C. Liberal MLAs support the idea, he has to
prove it is better before it can gain official government support.
Mayencourt imagines having one long-term retreat for each health
region, plus specialty locations such as for aboriginal people,
mothers with children or meth-addicted youth. The Italian program has
a main community of 2,200 people, plus two smaller ones, one
specializing in agriculture and the other building custom racing
bicycles. B.C. versions would be adapted to their local
environments.

He hopes to raise $150,000 from foundations and businesses to get the
northern pilot project through its first year. After that, he will
look for sponsors to fund each individual for $13-15,000 a year, an
investment to take one source of crime and disruption off the streets.

The B.C. government is also developing a pilot project for a community
court in Vancouver, to deal with addicted chronic offenders by
sentencing them to treatment programs. Mayencourt said he supports
that approach, but the New Hope community model will only work with
people who make a voluntary commitment.