Pubdate: Sun, 29 May 2005 Source: Richmond News (CN BC) Copyright: 2005, Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc. Contact: http://www.richmond-news.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1244 Author: Nelson Bennett Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) TASK FORCE TAKES LOOK AT DRUG COURT If you've ever had your home burglarized or your car broken into, chances are that drugs had something to do with it. "Between 70 and 80 per cent of break-ins and car thefts are directly related to drug addiction," said Coun. Linda Barnes, chairperson of the city's community safety committee, and liaison to the city's Substance Abuse Task Force. And according to Richmond RCMP, the majority of homicides in the Lower Mainland are also drug-related. The link between drug addiction and crime is one of the reasons the city's drug task force is looking into the possible establishment of a drug court here in Richmond. "It's designed for people who are repeat offenders who are always coming up on drug-related charges," said Vince Battistelli, executive director of Richmond Addiction Services and chairman of the Richmond Substance Abuse Task Force. Drug court, like the one in Vancouver, gives addicts and alcoholics the option of treatment over incarceration. The big drawback is cost. "They're a very expensive program," Battistelli said. And even if a drug court is established here, Richmond has only one treatment facility - a men-only nine-bed recovery house. Exploring the possibility of a drug court and lobbying for more treatment facilities and programs are among the priorities of the Substance Abuse Task Force's work plan, adopted by council Tuesday. The city has committed $50,000 to implementing the plan, which has a total budget of $90,500. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake