Pubdate: Tue, 03 Jul 2012
Source: Abbotsford Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 The Abbotsford Times
Contact:  http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1009
Author: Rochelle Baker

MAYOR: NO DETOX = NO HARM REDUCTION

Fraser Health "Disappointed" With Abbotsford's Stance

Abbotsford Mayor Bruce Banman and some members of council have made 
it clear they aren't interested in changing the city's anti-harm 
reduction bylaws unless Fraser Health provides more detox services to 
the community.

"If Fraser Health isn't going to be part of the solution and help us 
get detox, what's the point of turning this city upside down and 
having all that anger and fear [about a needle exchange] come up," 
said Banman at the June 25 council meeting.

Under pressure from Fraser Health Authority and harm reduction 
advocacy groups, the city is reviewing a 2005 bylaw banning the 
provision of services to drug addicts, including needle exchanges, 
supervised injection sites, medical marijuana or methadone dispensaries.

Fraser Health, pointing to the city's high rates of hepatitis C 
transmission and hospital admissions for street drug overdoses, has 
been advocating that the city establish some harm reduction measures 
and recently submitted a proposed needle exchange program plan.

Fraser Health does not have fixed detox services in Abbotsford, but 
mobile units serving the entire FHA region are available to attend 
private homes and residential beds.

Banman made his comments prior to council's decision to hold public 
meetings about whether to change the current anti-harm reduction bylaw.

"Fraser Health wanted to silo this and it was just about the 
transmission of disease," said Banman

"It's not going to fly . . . It's got to be detox."

Coun. John Smith agreed with Banman that having more detox services 
should be a precondition to the city agreeing to a needle exchange in 
Abbotsford.

"If they aren't going to give us detox . . . then quite frankly, [the 
harm reduction issue] is going nowhere with me," said Smith, adding 
he wasn't interested in changing the bylaw.

Fraser Health should spend much more of its massive budget on drug 
prevention or education than advocating the city to get on board with 
harm reduction, he said.

Dr. Paul Van Buynder, FHA chief medical health officer, said 
leveraging harm reduction services in exchange for more detox 
services wasn't likely to have any immediate success and poses 
potential harms to the community.

"Fraser Health has no immediate plans to develop a facility based 
detox program in Abbotsford. There are a range of substance use 
services in Abbotsford and we believe they are covering the need at 
this point," said Van Buynder.

"However, we are always evaluating a community's changing needs and 
that does not exclude future decisions."

Abbotsford has access to local residential treatment programs, mobile 
detox and transportation to the region's medical detox facility in 
Surrey, he said.

"I'm disappointed as chief medical health officer that an important 
medical health response would be prevented because an alternative 
health service is deemed not to be locally viable," said Van Buynder.

"To refuse access to one health service on the basis something else 
is needed is disappointing from a public health point of view."

However, some councillors said they weren't comfortable drawing a 
line in the sand with Fraser Health.

Coun. Bill MacGregor said that the issue of drug abuse needed a 
"layered" approach.

"Detox doesn't work for everyone. You pick people up wherever you 
can," he said.

"Yes, detox is the mothership but it's not one thing or nothing."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom