MOM SAYS MENTALLY ILL, DRUG-ADDICTED SON FALLS BETWEEN CRACKS

A local mother is fighting the Vancouver/Richmond Health Board over
its policy of separating treatment for mental illness and addictions.

Heidi Richards, whose 40-year-old son Adrian has schizophrenia and is
addicted to crack, has filed a complaint with the B.C. Human Rights
Commission, which is now trying to resolve the issue through mediation.

"If you have a mental illness alone, there are services you can
access. If you have a drug-addiction problem, as sparse as they are,
there are services," said Richards, who lives in the West End and has
two other children without mental illness.

"The problem is, if you have both and go for mental health help, they
say, 'You're addicted and we're not qualified to help.' If you go to
an addiction service they'll say, 'You've got a major mental health
problem and we can't help you.' They don't put two and two together."

Nancy Hall, B.C.'s mental health advocate, confirmed the problem at a
media conference on Monday, at which she condemned the province's
mental health system. Hall said 15,000 people in B.C., mostly living
in the Downtown Eastside, have concurrent mental health and addiction
problems, but only six government-funded beds are available for
treating concurrent illness.

"The current system of care separates alcohol/drug and mental health
treatment. Because of the size of the problem and the system's
inability to serve those people, the system continues to grow the
problem," said Hall, whose office will close this weekend as part of
the provincial government's New Era cutbacks.

Richards said her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was 17,
but only started using crack six years ago when he moved to the
Downtown Eastside because he couldn't find accommodation elsewhere.

"He was off his medication and got booted out of every other housing
until the only place that would take him was the Portland Hotel on
East Hastings. The dealers spotted and targeted him straight away,"
said Richards, who also questions the health board's decision to
locate its Strathcona Mental Health Unit in the heart of the Downtown
Eastside.

Adrian is now living in accommodation for mental health patients at
the Triage Emergency Care and Services Society, 707 Powell St., where
he is free to come and go and can buy crack as soon as he walks out
the door.

"He'll go a few days without using, then he goes on a run, he doesn't
eat or sleep for a few days and gets in trouble with police," said
Richards, who belongs to a group of moms with dual diagnosis children
that are trying to effect change in the mental care system.

Richards said the health board has been very defensive regarding its
position on addictions and mental health.

"They say they are doing the best they can. Then they say, 'We're in a
core review so we don't have any money.' We aren't saying it will cost
a lot of money. They just need some co-ordination."

The V/RHB will not comment on the case until it is resolved through
mediation or an HRC tribunal.