PHOENIX ADDICTION SERVICE UP IN AIR

The Adult Outpatient Clinic that has been offered through the Phoenix
Centre for decades might soon be a thing of the past.

The Interior Health Authority is in the process of reviewing care delivery
for people with mental health and addictions issues, and is not likely to
renew its contract with the Phoenix drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre,
says Niesje Vanden Dool, IHA community mental health service manager.

Ed Biberdorf says the loss of the contract will have a significant impact
on the centre, and will mean a potential loss of eight jobs, including his own.

Biberdorf is the adult services supervisor and has been working in Kamloops
with the Phoenix Centre for 17 years.

"We've had some verbal notification, but we're not sure yet," he says of
the future of the adult outpatient clinic.

The clinic administers to those suffering from addictions issues who need
assessment, referral and treatment.

Even if the clinic is lost, the centre will continue to offer youth
treatment programs, the methadone program and detox.

But what it means is uncertainty, for at least the next few weeks, as to
whether those eight people will have a job.

And that uncertainty exists for the clients as well.

Vanden Dool says reviewing the contract is just par for the course in the
long process of combining addiction and mental health services.

"There are no clear details at this time regarding a timeline, but we're in
a planning phase. We're looking at how we deliver care," she says.

The plans are "not necessarily a cost-savings initiative," she contends,
and the IHA has no plans to "cut jobs to save money," but are in fact
attempting to serve mental health and addicted patients as well as possible.

Biberdorf, however, feels that's already being done.

"We have a very good service and this is a frightening time for us, and we
want to make sure the Phoenix Centre remains strong. This is a significant
contract."