Pubdate: Wed, 31 Aug 2005
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Rita Daly

DETOX CLOSING DRAWS PROTEST

20 Beds Lost At West Toronto Site

Ministry 'Does Not Care If Addicts Die'

A 20-bed detox centre on Queen St. W. will close today as planned, despite 
protests from community workers who say a shift to outpatient services for 
alcohol and drug addicts is more about saving money than lives.

Faced with a barrage of criticism in recent weeks, the Ontario health 
ministry will delay the October closing of 22 beds at another treatment 
facility on Ossington Ave. until April 2006, when a new community-based 
detox program is open.

Street workers and addiction counsellors said, however, they will keep 
fighting the closings in a bid to reverse the decision.

During a noisy rally yesterday at 501 Queen St. W., which closes today, 
community activists criticized the province for a plan to remove 42 of 136 
detox beds operated by five of the city's hospitals. Six new beds will 
eventually open, leaving a total of 100.

That's not enough to serve people battling addictions, especially the 
homeless or transient who can't be treated in a home-based or community 
setting, said activist Sarah Dover.

"The Ministry of Health does not care if addicts die," she shouted to a 
small, boisterous crowd of health workers and addiction counsellors, as 
well as detox users who said they relied on beds as a safe place to take a 
break from drugs or alcohol.

But ministry and hospital officials say there will still be plenty of beds 
available for those who need them, while others can be better served 
through community programs.

"You take those people out of the beds and you have more capacity to serve 
those who need beds," said David Spencer, press secretary to Health Minster 
George Smitherman.

Critics say the closings are money-saving measures, but Spencer said the 
province intends to invest more money in addiction services.

The current beds-only system is overdue for restructuring, said Peter 
Selby, director of the addictions program at the Centre for Addiction and 
Mental Health.

"Before we ask government to throw more money at this, we first have to 
become more efficient," he said, noting beds are empty at times because 
detox centre workers can handle only so many acute cases at once.

At yesterday's rally, frontline workers told a different story, calling the 
situation a bed-shortage crisis.

"The first step to getting clean and sober is to enter detox," said Joel 
Richmond, an addiction counsellor and self-described alcoholic who used 
detox facilities until he achieved sobriety in December 1990.

"But many times I've had to tell clients that we have no beds."

The ensuing battle over the detox beds has pitted community agencies 
against the hospitals that run them. A coalition of frontline workers was 
formed in anger that they weren't consulted earlier on the closings.

Dr. Bob Bell, president and CEO of the University Health Network that runs 
the Ossington facility, said the closing of that site is being postponed 
because of community concerns.

"We've obviously talked to the ministry and agree we should keep the 
facility open until there are adequate resources available," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman