Pubdate: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 Source: Red Deer Express (CN AB) Copyright: 2006 Red Deer Express Contact: http://www.reddeerexpress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2920 Author: Johnnie Bachusky DETOX SIGNALS CITY'S GREAT LEAP OF FAITH A while back I was invited to a birthday party for a Calgary businessman. It was a 12-Step birthday for this fellow at a monthly Alcoholics Anonymous birthday meeting. He was celebrating his first birthday, one year of continuous recovery from alcohol and drugs. Three hundred and 65 days earlier his life looked like this: wife and kids gone, his home lost, a career obliterated and no friends. One year later, he was clean from all drugs and alcohol, his wife and kids were back, his home returned, a new job had started with better money and career opportunities, and the respect and admiration of his friends returned. This fellow had climbed back from the abyss to be a contributing and productive member of society, loved and respected by his family, friends and peers. At the meeting he thanked his 12-Step friends for their love and support. He also gratefully acknowledged the help and dedication of the staff at Renfrew Detox Centre, a facility in Calgary that cared for him during his darkest hour, and later provided important referrals to assist him in moving forward with his life. And now everyone is benefiting from this man's return to health. What is important to remember is that this man was able to find the road to recovery by utilizing the resources that were within reach in his city, a phone call away. This week Red Deer's temporary detox centre finally opened at 4809 48 Ave., an eight-bed facility for men and women who have mustered the courage to take a critical leap of faith in their lives towards the road of recovery. The temporary facility, which will be staffed by two employees - 24 hours a day, seven days a week - will fulfill a need in the city until the Safe Harbour Society opens its permanent 6,600 sq.-ft. building later this fall. The permanent facility will have a 20-bed detox and a 20-bed mat program. "It (detox) will give Safe Harbour an opportunity to do what we have been trying to do for several years now. It will provide such a needed service in the community," said Stacey Carmichael, board chairperson for the Safe Harbour Society. "The people of Safe Harbour have been involved in this for years. It is full speed ahead. I'm really excited." The temporary facility is a humble but critically important beginning for the society, which two years ago received a $750,000 grant from the provincial government to open up the detox/mat program. The society had great hopes and dreams for the city, but public opposition due to fear and ignorance of addiction, nearly killed the project. If a location wasn't found by the end of 2005 the province was set to pull all the funding. "Before Dec. 5 (final city approval) we had no idea Safe Harbour would still even be around at the end of the month. Yes, we could have lost everything," said Kath Hoffman, residential director of the Safe Harbour Society, whose agency also operates the overnight shelter at 4712 51 Ave. (formerly Andy's Place). "It has been frustrating. You will hear people just say the dumbest things as far as fear about addictions. "When you hear that you go, 'How am I going to educate you enough to get you over it to understand what it is we are trying to do?," said Hoffman. "The thing I couldn't wrap my head around through this whole process is why people could not see this as a solution. "We rose out of a community need," she added. "We are sick and tired of this drug business like everybody else, so lets do something about it." Hoffman proudly points out Red Deer and area citizens now needing professional help and support from addiction no longer have to look to Calgary and Edmonton. This year alone, before this week's opening of the temporary detox, the Safe Harbour Society transported more than 100 people to detox centres in the two larger cities. However, funding was scarce and the society could only provide a one-way ticket. The clients, many of them broke and destitute and alone, had to figure out a way to get back to the Central Alberta city. It was a discouraging way for recovery to get started. "A lot of people will stay sick, or just say 'the hell with it," said Hoffman. There is now no need for anyone in Red Deer to stay sick from the horrors of addiction. The detox centre is providing an important step towards recovery from an illness that has no known cure. Yes, there will no doubt still be bumps along the way for the detox. For a while anyways there will also be some ongoing public concerns over security and safety. The RCMP may even be called from time to time about an unruly client. But the positives of the project clearly outweigh any of the potential negatives. The detox is a vital service for the city, and many future clients may just be like the Calgary man mentioned earlier -- a life saved for the benefit of the entire community. The program is a great leap forward for Red Deer, a city already rich in economic and social opportunities. But like anything else, progress can always be made. The city's leap of faith of finally approving this project, after so much trial and turbulence, has given hope to so many. As a result, the soul of Red Deer is shining even brighter. The Jonathan Clatter Award of Merit: To Stacey Carmichael, board chairperson for the Safe Harbour Society, and everyone else at the agency for their perseverance and determination in getting the detox project up and running. Untold thousands of Red Deer citizens in the future will always be grateful.