Why are we placing a heavier burden on an
already overburdened hospital emergency department and on the
Sudbury Regional Police?
A co-location for combined men and women
detox at Pinegate, (336 Pine St., Sudbury) became a reality
from Jan. 6, to March 31. Detox beds will be lost in the
shuffle. The number of admission cots will also be reduced.
Twelve persons, half of the combined detox staff, will be
displaced. Women clients with sexual abuse and other abuse
issues will be housed in an uncomfortable environment with men.
Safety issues and the welfare of our citizens will be
unethically compromised under the guise of addressing a budget
deficit.
Detox centres remain under the auspices of
the North East Mental Health Centre. Any visionary realizes the
long-term repercussions of this co-ed decision-making ploy. For
example, consider increasing pressure in the Mental Health
System; increased adverse effect on the homeless population and
on our community as a whole. We will depleting mental health
resources! It's a lose, lose proposition!
Alcohol and drug addiction discriminates
against no one and impacts each and every one of us, either
directly or indirectly.
It is our civic and moral duty to defend the
needs of the vulnerable; to rally together as a community when
something is amiss. We need not to exasperate an already
overtaxed hospital emergency department and the police
service.
Please express your opinion and/or concerns
by calling Pinegate's Director, Jean-Guy Lesveque at 675-7022
or write to Jean Trimmel, CEO for North East Mental Health
Centre, Sudbury - Algoma Site, 690 Kirkwood Dr., Sudbury P3E
1X3 (705
-675-9192).
Helen Shewchuk,
Former chair
Mental Health Addiction Committee District
Health Council