Pubdate: Tue, 04 Mar 2003
Source: Powell River Peak (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 Peak Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1998
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/734
Author: Laura Walz
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

NEIGHBOURS FEAR IMPACT

But organizers say proposed substance abuse treatment centre will be
supervised and discrete

Residents who live close to a proposed substance abuse treatment centre
south of Powell River are concerned about the impact the facility will have
on their neighbourhood.

Jim and Jeanne Kerfoot represent residents who live near the proposed
facility on Fleury Road. They said they are concerned for their safety, the
value of their properties, and the lack of consultation with people in the
neighbourhood. "Addicts will be coming from all over the province," said
Jim. "There's a ready supply of drugs in Powell River. Sometimes they have
desperate moments. What will they be willing to do?"

The building where the facility is going to be located used to be the Banyan
Centre. The clients then were people with disabilities. Once Jeanne came
home and someone from the centre was in her house. "What's to stop these
people from coming in?" she asked. "I'm not in the habit of locking the door
every time I go outside. I moved away from the Lower Mainland because it was
like that. I don't want to have to lock my door and put bars on my windows."

Other concerns neighbours raised involved their property values, noting
their homes would be hard to sell with the centre in the neighbourhood. They
were also concerned that the facility's septic field may contaminate
neighbours' water supplies.

The neighbours have many questions, they said, and no answers. "We don't
know anything that's going on," said Jim.

They also said they felt railroaded and powerless to do anything about the
situation. "There's absolutely nothing we can do," said Jeanne. "That's the
problem."

Cathy Jordan and her son Daniel Jordan are the proponents of the facility.
The facility, which has a tentative start up date of June 2003, will have
the capacity to serve 21 clients and will have a staff of 15 when it is in
full operation.

The building is on five acres of waterfront property and has provided health
care since 1962.

The centre will offer a comprehensive program with counsellors, support
workers, and medical personnel. It is privately run with no government
funding and clients will be required to pay the full cost of their
treatment. The focus will be on intervention and helping people before their
problem escalates.

"It will be low-key and discrete," said Daniel. "We don't need a sign out
front to bring in customers."

Clients will be referred through their doctors or through EAPs (Employee
Assistance Programs). They will come from the local community and from other
communities throughout North America. Daniel said their privacy and
anonymity will be important to them. "They don't want people to know they're
in treatment," he said. "For the most part they will stay on the grounds and
they will be supervised 24 hours a day."

Clients will participate in therapy, individual counselling sessions, and
physical exercise in a gym. "There will be a whole raft of activities to
keep them busy," he said.

Their property doesn't have a fence, but Daniel said if they did put up a
fence, it would impact on their neighbours' view.

Cathy said the septic field has been inspected by the health department and
passed. She also said it was far away from any neighbouring wells or water
supplies.

She also pointed out that the building had been a facility for many years.
"All the people have moved in since we had it as a facility. There's no
zoning there and it could be anything."

Both Cathy and Daniel said they were willing to answer questions about the
facility.

"We're more than happy to meet with the neighbours, either individually or
as a group," said Daniel.
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MAP posted-by: Josh