GOVERNMENT PUSHES DRUGS ON RECOVERY CENTRES

An Aldergrove addiction treatment facility which has helped over a thousand
men over the past 21 years has lost its contract with the provincial health
ministry because it refuses to go along with the "harm reduction" policy
which is currently in vogue.

Wagner Hills Farm is a Christian outreach program that operates on the
well-known 12-step program of total abstinence, which is at odds with the
health ministry's new requirement that addictions services-funded recovery
programs must now accept clients on prescribed methadone.

Helmut Boehm, the director of Wagner Hills for the past 21 years, says this
is an impossible requirement and he has asked local MLA and Solicitor
General Rich Coleman to look into a reversal of this new policy.

"We receive about $15,500 a year from the health ministry, a token amount,
but we were happy to receive it and to enjoy a good relationship with the
ministry," said Boehm. "We value their support and many of the things they
ask of us make a lot of sense."

However, three years ago the "system of care" tried to implement a
methadone "harm reduction" policy even for those such as Wagner Hills which
operate on an abstinence policy. Even use of tobacco is forbidden at Wagner
Hills.

"There was a big uproar from recovery centres and the ministry backed off,"
said Boehm. "But two years later they introduced the same policy as a
'medications policy'. Starting in April of 2001 we wrote letters and have
been in a dialogue to change this so we're not compelled to accept
methadone use.

"Our focus is on abstinence. If we supply this to some it changes
everything we're about."

Boehm said methadone, a synthetic narcotic, was invented in Germany during
World War II, to block brain receptors which most narcotics attach
themselves to. It provides a mellow "high" as opposed to the euphoric high
of heroin.

"It has harmful, adverse effects on the body and is very addictive," said
Boehm. "Over the long-term its help to addicts is not borne out by experience."

Coleman told The Star that he's surprised that this clause is still working
its way through the addiction services system, the responsibility for which
is in transition from the health ministry to the new Fraser Health
Authority. He's asked both the ministry and health authority to revisit the
matter.

"I hope to have an answer within 24 hours," said Coleman, Tuesday
afternoon. "For us to dictate the form of intervention across the board to
providers is not appropriate."

Boehm says he's still "hoping for some wisdom" but says life will go on as
usual at the facility, no matter what the government's decision is.

"Our referrals come from our reputation among doctors and detox centres. We
also get a lot from churches and pastors who are doing street work."