DEATH EMPHASIZES DETOX CENTRE NEED

Health officials are avoiding media questions and have thus far not
implemented the recommendations of a coroner's jury, but the untimely death
of a 20-year-old Abbotsford woman is not going to be easily ignored.

At least, not if the father of Christena Constible has anything to do with
the issue.

Christena died of a prescription drug overdose on May 12, 2000, and a
coroner's jury in January found the Fraser Valley woefully lacking in detox
and drug addiction services.

However, John Constible said nothing has changed and is asking who is
accountable.

In fact, Constible said, the situation has become more desperate for youth
and young adults struggling with drug addictions in the Fraser Valley.

His daughter died accidentally, due to an overdose of prescription drugs
and methadone while under the medical care of Dr. James Swanney.

The coroner's inquest into Christena's death recommended a number of
improvements to mental health services, including the establishment of a
residential detox centre in the Fraser Valley.

Constible said he is very frustrated that the recommendations by the
coroner have not yet been implemented. And the Abbotsford father said he
has received "zero response" from his contacts with local Liberal MLAs.

Health Services Minister Colin Hansen has not responded to a request for an
interview with the Abbotsford News on the question of a detox centre in the
Fraser Valley.

Meanwhile, the provincial government shut down the Campbell Valley Women's
Centre for young female addicts in Langley on March 31.

Langley-Abbotsford (Canadian Alliance) MP Randy White and the B.C. Civil
Liberties Association protested the decision, citing the coroner's
recommendations to add - not decrease - the number of detox services in the
Fraser Valley.

Further funding cuts to health services are expected in the Fraser Health
Authority at the end of this month to ward off a projected $136 million
operating deficit by 2004 or 2005. Constible said he has also filed an
official complaint with the B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons, asking
that it revoke the medical licences of Dr. Swanney and psychiatrist Dr.
Sonia Uppal at MSA General Hospital as a result of his daughter's death. He
also wants each of them penalized $25,000.

Those funds should be directed to rehabilitate drug addicted adolescents,
said Constible. In addition, he said the hospital should be fined a total
of $50,000, with the funds directed to educate hospital staff.

"If a doctor is guilty of wrong-doing, I believe it shouldn't be covered
up. There should be justice for people like my daughter," said Constible.

Dr. Morris Van Andle, registrar for the College of Physicians, said the
College intends to investigate and review Constible's allegations.

The College is currently reviewing Swanney's care after another of his
Abbotsford patients, 45-year-old police officer Don King, died of pneumonia
and an overdose of morphine.

Constible said he's weary of the lack of accountability.

The coroner has informed the health authority that MSA General Hospital
must be upgraded to provide mental health services for a growing
population, particularly services for patients requiring detoxification
from either prescription or street drugs.

"Temporary implementation is necessary to prevent untimely deaths or
unnecessary crises" until the new hospital is in service, according to the
coroner.

It was also recommended that more mental health workers, including five
more psychiatrists, be hired for Abbotsford and Mission. There was also a
recommendation for the creation of a three-year pilot program to help dual
diagnosis clients with mental illness and substance abuse addictions.

Fraser Valley health authorities did not return calls to the Abbotsford
News as of deadline yesterday.

The coroner made the following recommendations specifically to the minister
of health:

- - A residential detox centre (for short-term and long-term stay) with
addiction specialists is needed for the Fraser Valley and an adolescent
centre is needed at MSA General Hospital.

- - All health care professionals looking after a person with acute substance
abuse and/or mental health problems should be part of a multi-disciplinary
team, with a cross-trained mental health addiction case manager.

- - Patients should have more options for mental health care services, rather
than being confined to their own health regions.