VICTORIA – The B.C. Liberals’ task force on unlicensed drug and alcohol recovery homes announced earlier today shows how badly the Premier’s agenda has hurt vulnerable citizens, NDP Health Critic Adrian Dix said today.

In 2002, the Premier deregulated B.C.’s alcohol and drug recovery homes.  As a result, many patients are now fighting their addictions in poorly run, inadequate and sometimes dangerous facilities. 

“The declining state of British Columbia’s alcohol and drug recovery system is a damning indictment of the B.C. Liberal record,” said Dix.   “Back in 2002, the Premier called the regulations governing addiction rehab facilities “red tape” and eliminated them.   As a result, many people struggling with addiction are being treated in terrible conditions.”

According to the manager of addiction programs at Fraser Health and reported today in the Vancouver Sun:

“There’s been overcrowding.  Some places there’s no food, some places youth and adults are together in a house.  There’s been allegations of intimidation and violence.  You name it.”

Dix said that while the government’s decision to strike a task force on these facilities is welcome, it’s in response to a problem of the Premier’ s own making.

“Part of the answer is to bring back the safeguards and controls for patients that Mr. Campbell eliminated four years ago,” said Dix.   “While the task force may well provide useful recommendations, the B.C. Liberals need to immediately start work in re-regulating the alcohol and drug rehab system before more patients are forced into inadequate and dangerous facilities.”

Adrian Dix

Vancouver-Kingsway

Adrian Dix was elected leader of the BC New Democrats in April 2011.