Pubdate: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 Source: Meridian Booster (CN AB) Copyright: 2004, The Lloydminster Meridian Booster Contact: http://www.meridianbooster.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1590 Author: Todd MacKay LLOYDMINSTER DETOX SHORTAGE PROMPTS LEGISLATURE DEBATE As the Walter A. Slim Thorpe detox centre denies requests for help on a daily basis due to a lack of beds, Opposition MLAs are raising the issue in the Alberta Legislature. Lloydminster Meridian Booster - As the Walter A. Slim Thorpe detox centre denies requests for help on a daily basis due to a lack of beds, Opposition MLAs are raising the issue in the Alberta Legislature. "A Lloydminster detox centre admitted that it had turned away 90 patients last month," said Liberal Laurie Blakeman during question period this past Thursday. "How does the government justify huge liquor sales profits while people with addictions go untreated?" The government receives $588 million from liquor and related revenue, but spends only $48 million to directly treat addiction, according to Blakeman. Premier Ralph Klein contested Blakeman's assessment of the numbers. "Taxes for liquor go into general revenues and are used for a multitude of services including services for those suffering addictions," replied Klein. "I can tell you where $7.2 billion dollars of that money went. It went to health care generally." Slim Thorpe hopes to get a little more of that revenue in the new fiscal year beginning April 1. The facility currently offers a total of six detox beds, four of which are funded equally by the Alberta and Saskatchewan governments. Slim Thorpe director Craig Featherstone is lobbying for $20,000 from each province to provide another two publicly funded beds. The facility's total budget, including both public and private funding, is about $1.3 million per year. In February the detox centre turned away more than 90 requests for help because beds were already full. Featherstone says the centre is on pace for similar numbers in March. "Two more beds could help another 100 people a year," said Featherstone. The Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission is aware of the pressure on Slim Thorpe's detox centre. AADAC program consultant Marcy Dibbs says the Lloydminster facility operates at about 88 per cent capacity. Detox centres in Edmonton and Calgary run at about 80 per cent. "When there are new developments we certainly keep an eye on it," she said. "(But) there's no guarantee of a funding solution." Dibbs says facilities usually need to make funding requests a year in advance. Government needs to make that funding more readily available, according to Opposition members. Blakeman says the government itself is addicted to the revenue it receives from alcohol, tobacco and gambling, while doing too little to help those struggling with addiction. "We have to tie revenue to funding for treatment," she said. "More money for the government equals more people with problems." - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman