Pubdate: Fri, 28 Dec 2007 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 The Vancouver Sun Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477 Author: De Whalen Note: De Whalen is president of the Richmond Women's Resource Centre. RICHMOND ADDICTS SHOULD BE TREATED CLOSE TO HOME The shame of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside continually reinforces the critical need for new addiction recovery services throughout the Lower Mainland and across our province. In particular, services that help women with addictions recover in a safe, supportive facility in their own community. The City of Richmond is currently reviewing one such proposal, prepared by Turning Point Recovery Society -- a proposal under attack by a Richmond opposition with the angry name NIABY ("not in anyone's backyard"). NIABY refuses to acknowledge the urgent need for recovery services in Richmond and is waging a misinformation campaign against Turning Point and all persons afflicted with the disease of addiction. Why does Richmond need Turning Point? Today, Richmond women suffering from the disease of addiction -- women wanting to build a better life for themselves and their families -- are forced to go to Vancouver, Surrey or elsewhere for treatment. There are no recovery beds in Richmond to help them. Strangely, this is not the case for men. Which begs a timely question: Why are women with addiction problems treated like second-class citizens? As president of the Richmond Women's Resource Centre, I know the situation first hand. Last year we helped over 4,600 women in Richmond with everything from spousal violence, to homelessness and drug addictions, with very scarce resources. It is difficult enough for women with substance abuse problems to get the help they need, particularly women with limited means and limited child-care options. Relocating them to another community is a major road block to recovery that many women are simply not able to overcome. Women referred to treatment and fortunate enough to stay on the waitlist and get a bed often have to make a difficult choice: Leave their community, find a temporary home for their children and take the treatment bed, or forego the bed and continue the cycle of addiction. With funding from the provincial government's affordable housing strategy, Turning Point's proposed facility would be located in Richmond on a half-acre lot on Ash Street with two 10-bed residences - -- one dedicated to women and one dedicated to men. The proposal also calls for an affordable housing residence for 12 persons that will contain 10 small suites on the same property, up to four of them devoted to serving mothers with infants. Additionally, there will be one two-bedroom suite that will be devoted to serving a mother with a young child or children. Richmond needs this facility. The city must take responsibility and stop exporting citizens who suffer from addictions to other municipalities. After all, women in the Downtown Eastside weren't born in the Downtown Eastside -- they come from communities throughout B.C., including Richmond. This sad reality was substantiated in a 2004 report issued by the City of Richmond's Substance Abuse Task Force, a group made up of community groups and subject matter experts including the RCMP, Richmond Health Services and SUCCESS. The report, endorsed by Richmond City Council, states: "Richmond agencies regularly refer those seeking treatment to facilities and services in Vancouver. This can complicate the problem for the addicts/substance abusers as they are frequently thrust into the harsher and more hostile environment of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside." That's why NIABY's misinformation campaign against Turning Point -- and its political blackmail of Richmond City Council -- is so shameful. The disease of addiction affects men and women, all races and socioeconomic groups. It can even affect the sons and daughters of NIABY supporters. Do we not have a social and moral responsibility to help the most vulnerable citizens in our own community? Or have these women and men been marginalized to the point that they no longer matter? Richmond women deserve to be treated in Richmond. Their families deserve to be by their side throughout the treatment process. It is incumbent upon Richmond City Council to do the right thing for all members of our community and support Richmond women and families in their fight against addiction. They deserve nothing less. De Whalen is president of the Richmond Women's Resource Centre. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek