Pubdate: Thu, 10 Nov 2005 Source: Nanaimo News Bulletin (CN BC) Copyright: 2005, BC Newspaper Group Contact: http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/948 Author: Darrell Bellaart Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada) MORE METH BEDS NEEDED, SAYS FORMER MLA Mike Hunter is ready to push for more resources to help crystal meth addicts go clean. Hunter heads up the Crystal Meth Task Force and he heard a resounding message that addicts have nowhere to turn when they want to get off the drug. A recent public forum was staged to tell the public about the group's plans to launch a public education program on the dangers of crystal meth. But what members heard that night sent the group in a new direction. "What's making the difference here is all these people - recovering addicts who bring passion and emotion to this that you can't escape." Hunter said. "They're not shy about letting you know what's needed." Last spring the Vancouver Island Health Authority allocated another $350,000 to adult addiction treatment, enough funding for another six bed in the central and north Island, for a total of 18. That was partly due to Hunter's lobbying as Nanaimo MLA. But Hunter recently met with VIHA asking for even more resources. "We had a very encouraging meeting with Vancouver Island Health Authority I think, so I'm going to take a week to do some other stuff and then get back at this and hopefully start to work on the action plan," Hunter said. "The objective here is to be able to have a treatment system that, when an addict makes that decision that they want to get out of the lifestyle - when the light goes on - we need to be able to get them through that door and into the treatment community. "And right now we're not able to accomplish that. So I think we know what the problem is, just finding the answer is going to take a little while." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake