Pubdate: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 Source: Chilliwack Times (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 Chilliwack Times Contact: http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1357 Author: Robyn Chambers Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange) NEEDLE CLINIC ON THE MOVE On Friday Fraser Valley Connections ceased offering addiction services at its controversial location on Spadina Avenue. But its closure wasn't due to pubic complaints of late, instead the services have being shifted to Pacific Community Resources Society. The work, contracted to PCRS by the Fraser Health Authority, will be an expansion on what Fraser Valley Connections already offered, and will include: addictions counselling, education, peer support, referral to recovery and a needle exchange. Those will be in addition to an addictions outpatient clinic, school-based prevention and youth outreach programs already provided by PCRS in Chilliwack. According to David Plug, spokesperson for the Fraser Health Authority, PCRS is currently searching for an appropriate location in the community. Mayor Clint Hames says the service is welcome to set up anywhere there is commercial zoning. "It's probably not moving along fast enough for anybody at this point and time. It's something that takes a lot of care and I'm happy that the addiction services will be placed together with this (needle exchange) program. I think it will give them the critical mass to have a better, more efficient location. But where it is-they are welcome to go in any commercial area because we don't have restrictions about those kinds of things." Fraser Valley Connections offered a needle exchange program, which was the source of much controversy at its more recent location, but the bulk of their work, said Hames, was counselling and referral to other agencies. Grant Roberge, Fraser Health administrator of health services for Chilliwack, said the time was right to move the services to an agency that could provide a greater range. "Given the valley's growing population and growing needs, the time was right for a change from a small organization to a larger agency with more resources," he said in a prepared release. "Integrating communitiy-based addictions services will ensure close connections between the range of addictions services such as referrals for treatment." The Fraser Health Authority contracts out addictions services annually. PCRS, a non-profit accredited agency, has provided community services in the Lower Mainland since 1984. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek