TEMPORARY DETOX CLOSURE RAISES ALARM

Police, Social Workers Wonder Where Alcohol, Drug Addicts To Go

KITCHENER -- Police, social workers and downtown business people who have
contact with alcohol and drug addicts are alarmed about a potential
one-month closure of Kitchener's detoxification centre this summer.

Marty Schreiter, executive director of Kitchener's Downtown Business
Association, and regional police Supt. Anne McConnell, who has special
responsibility for Kitchener's core, said yesterday they are worried what
will happen to 140 addicts if the facility closes in July or August because
of a cash shortage.

Mike Voisin, director of public affairs at Kitchener's Grand River
Hospital, confirmed yesterday officials are still looking for $76,000
required to prevent temporary closure of the centre at Park and Glasgow
streets.

Last month, Carolyne Hooper, the hospital's director of mental health
programs, warned about the closure of the facility which is now called the
withdrawal management centre. She said the provincial Health Ministry knew
about the cash crunch but refused to provide more money.

Careful to note those with addiction problems come from all parts of the
region, not just downtown Kitchener, Schreiter said he's worried that the
closure and lack of immediate treatment could increase violence in local
communities and families.

"I have a real concern about the impact this has on the overall community .
. . and I'm concerned we have to do without this part of the traditional
social safety net," he said.

Schreiter said members of his association call police when they see someone
who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the core.

McConnell said temporary closure of the centre would cause problems for
police because alternatives are limited any time they deal with with addicts.

She said police either put an addict in a cell or take the person to the
withdrawal centre for treatment.

"The centre is something we use regularly because . . . they can help
people so much better than we can if we put them in jail," she said.
"Alcoholism is a disease and the centre is obviously a better choice."

McConnell said last July, police dealt with 236 cases of intoxicated people
across the region -- 43 from downtown Kitchener.

Many of the 43 were taken to the centre.

Examining statistics from one week last month, she said 12 of 28
intoxicated people who had contact with police came from downtown Kitchener.

Police took six of the 12 to the centre while the others were driven home,
taken to hospital or put in cells.

Deb Schlichter, executive director of Kitchener's downtown House of
Friendship, said the centre is a major referral point for addiction
treatment programs operated by local agencies.

Schlichter said the House of Friendship has two addiction programs and also
refers men who have alcohol or drug problems from its hostel to the centre.

"Without the centre, the whole addiction system starts to wobble and break
down," said Schlichter.

Carine Nind, chairwoman of a local committee working to ease homelessness,
said she is disappointed by news of the potential closure.

"These are very fragile people who are in the process of trying to change
their lives," she said.

Her committee met yesterday and decided to support any efforts to keep the
centre open.

Hooper said addicts who require service while the centre is closed will
have to go to the hospital's emergency department.

Those who agree will be sent to other withdrawal centres in Hamilton,
London or Brampton, she said.