MAYENCOURT HERE TOMORROW

Grit MLA To Give Early Morning Talk On 'Fifth Pillar' Of Addiction

Lorne Mayencourt has a dream.

It's not a simple dream for the Vancouver-Burrard Liberal MLA.

Rather, it's the goal to solve the dual problem of the homeless and
the addicted in British Columbia.

And, to that, he has looked to Italy and a residential-treatment
program in San Patrignano.

Mayencourt will discuss what he learned during a visit there at a
presentation tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. at the Coast Canadian Inn.

San Patrignano is home to 2,200 recovering drug addicts who live
there from three to five years.

While they work on their recovery, they learn a trade and how to be
part of and contribute to a community.

Through the program, "the recovering drug addict understands that
they have value," Mayencourt said.

He discussed the program -- which claims a 75 per cent success rate
- -- during a session of the legislature in November, when he said he
believes the program presents a model to be used in B.C.

At the time, he noted the province has adopted "a four-pillars
approach to alcohol and drug addictions: harm reduction, prevention,
treatment and enforcement.

"Today, I'd like to speak about a fifth pillar, a pillar called hope.

"I believe the San Patrignano model represents much-needed hope to
address the drug addiction and homelessness that continue to cripple
our cities and towns."