Pubdate: Tue, 28 Jun 2005
Source: Chilliwack Progress (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 The Chilliwack Progress
Contact:  http://www.theprogress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/562
Author: Jennifer Feinberg
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange)

NEEDLE EXCHANGE SEEKS A NEW HOME

Needle exchange services must be seen as part of a broader framework 
of community services in order to be more readily accepted in 
Chilliwack, suggests Mayor Clint Hames.

He was commenting on a recent cycle of complaints and hasty 
relocation the staff of Fraser Valley Connection Services has been 
forced to undergo in Chilliwack in the last year.

The recent challenges are coming after more than a decade of peaceful 
and successful existence within or near the downtown core. The local 
harm reduction service - of which needle exchange is only one 
component - will now be under the aegis of the Fraser Health 
Authority's Addiction Services to solve some of the problems.

I think these programs have to stop being seen as poor second-cousins 
in the health system, always nervous about their very existence in 
the community," Mayor Hames says.

He met with Fraser Valley Connection Services, and FHA officials 
Friday to discuss options for relocation in the wake of a few 
complaints about Connection's last location on Spadina Avenue at Main Street.

Part of the problem is that Chilliwack is carrying the burden of the 
entire eastern Fraser Valley region, suggests Mayor Hames, as the 
only city with an organization that offers clean needles, and other 
services, to people struggling with IV-drug addictions.

He states quite frankly he's loath to enable addicts" in any way, and 
is uncomfortable" with that aspect of it.

But we are also providing valuable (harm reduction) services to all 
the addicts who come here from Abbotsford and Mission, cities which 
have so far resisted any of these options," he says. If you ask, do I 
like that there are lots of addicted people here?, the answer is no. 
Is it a bad lifestyle? Yes.

Look, I'm an uptight right-wing guy, but I'm trying to see it more as 
a medical issue. If even one of 20 people using the service ends up 
getting a better life, then we're doing something here," Mayor Hames says.

Various agencies were trying to calm anxious residents this week by 
providing better and more detailed information.

We need to ensure that (FV Connection) clients can access these 
services. We're moving on comprehensive plan to relocate them to a 
more appropriate location, one that takes into consideration 
community needs," says Fraser Health Manager of Addictions Programs 
Sherry Mumford. Community in that context is both the community at 
large, and the community of injection drug users."

The local program offers important prevention and intervention" 
services for IV drug users, which will soon be linked with services 
already being offered, says Ms. Mumford.

We're feeling really optimistic and we're sure this will be a win-win 
situation," she says. It will further integrate this particular 
service into the larger context of addiction services."

The shift will mean better linkages to residential treatment, 
support, recovery, detox and after care for recovering drug users.

The thing that everyone needs to know is that this service has 
existed in the community already for a dozen years," Mayor Hames 
says. The point has to be made that this is a health-related program 
that has a legitimate right to exist."

If incidents arise due to illegal activity or nuisance issues, then 
police can be called upon to respond, he says. We also have security 
(commissionaires) on duty downtown who patrol the streets," he adds.

If Chilliwack seniors have still have concerns, they're welcome to 
contact the program-providers (604-795-3757) for more detailed information.

Recent concerns expressed to him anecdotally seem to have been 
completely beyond the control" of the people providing the program. 
Instead of people being freaked out by it, it could be seen as one of 
many expanded services that also include things like addictions 
treatment and detox assistance," concludes Mayor Hames.
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MAP posted-by: Beth