Pubdate: Tue, 16 May 2000 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2000 The Province Contact: 200 Granville Street, Ste. #1, Vancouver, BC V6C 3N3 Canada Fax: (604) 605-2323 Website: http://www.vancouverprovince.com/ Page A11 Author: Kathy Tait DRUG SERVICES IN BAD SHAPE As B.C. swims in a cocktail of easily available illicit drugs, a team of addictions experts has revealed the sorry state of the province's prevention and treatment services. At a press conference yesterday calling for an independent addictions commission, experts from the B.C. Medical Association, the Association of Substance Abuse Programs, the RCMP, the Kaiser Youth Foundation and the Alcohol and Drug Education Service said the province's drug services have been down-sized, underfunded and are in complete disarray. Vancouver Mayor Phillip Owen who was also there, said: "To do nothing is not an option." The experts revealed that: * Despite demand from worried parents, B.C. students get education on the effects of drugs on only a hit-and-miss basis. Many get only two to three hours a year. * More than 10 per cent of the B.C. population suffers from substance-abuse disorders. That figure rises to 20 per cent if smokers are included. Drug abuse is starting at younger and younger ages. * 20 per cent of B.C. hospital beds are occupied by people who have substance-abuse disorders, many of whom aren't diagnosed. - --- MAP posted-by: Allan Wilkinson