Needle Exchange and Health Centre Plans for Downtown

Thursday, December 07, 2006 09:49 AM

Working together, Northern Health the City of Prince George and downtown businesses have developed a three part plan to deal with health concerns in the downtown area, primarily the needle exchange and the need for a new health care centre.

Part one: Will see the needle exchange (which was destroyed in the B&B music fire a few months ago) will be located in a building kitty-corner to the former Java Mugga Mocha at the corner of Third and George Streets. Northern Health will also use that leased space to include some other services it was providing downtown, and the Positive Living North Society is expected to move it’s "Fire Pit" support service to that building as well.

Part Two: The City of Prince George will enter into an agreement with the downtown merchants to ensure disgarded needles and drug paraphernalia litter are cleaned up as quickly as possible. This has been a major concern of Steven James, the new Manager of the Ramada Hotel on George Street. "We believe that prevention programs like needle exchange services would be better located away from commercial businesses. We also understand what the health experts have told us about disease prevention. There needs to be a stronger unified effort by all stakeholders to work together and implement programs dealing with discarded drug paraphernalia, helping to make the downtown more attractive for visitors and customers," says James.

Part Three is the long term plan. It calls for the development of a special Health care services centre in the downtown core. This centre would blend services already provided by the Central Interior Native Health Services, and Northern Health. That would mean the leasing, or construction of a new facility. A new centre would also enable medical and nursing teaching activities. Planning efforts will include consultation with downtown merchants.

Mayor Colin Kinsley says Prince George is not alone in dealing with this kind of scenario "It important to note that all large cities are dealing with similar social stresses and my Council colleagues and I are committed to this proactive and collaborative approach.”

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Posted on Thursday, December 07, 2006 09:49 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: REALIST on December 7 2006 10:34 AM

Good to see. Moving the needle exchange to satisfy the needs of corporate interest may make sense to those investing the money but, the reality is that these services need to be where the people who use them are located. I sincerly hope that all the agencies involved consulted with those who will use the system. It has become common for government (at all levels) to disregard the ideas of those who use the services and then the people are surprised that they do not work. I suspect that these people have been consulted as the placement of these services satisfies the needs of the clients and not the money mongers.

Posted by: trusted on December 7 2006 1:56 PM

It is of interest to myself that druggies are referred to as "clients."
The people in business in the area of a needle exchange are given reference to as "money mongers."
It is understandable the "clients" be consulted as to the location of this needle exchange, as it simply is demanded it be located in an accessible location. Heaven forbid these "clients" be placed at any disadvantage.
Of course, I am one who has absolutely no objection to the druggies running the downtown, and the merchants having the responsibility of answering to them.
I also would like to see the druggies having access to the new gaming centre. After all, panhandling by hitting up the potential gamblers for a few bucks is just proving some of these "clients" are enterprising.
Now, it is time to place prostitutes in a more welcoming environment.
I am sure REALIST has some stellar suggestions to offer, as I am sure the Johns are "clients" which must be addressed with the same respect as "druggies."
This is perhaps too complicated for City Hall.
Sometimes these "social stresses" are just too taxing!

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on December 7 2006 3:26 PM

The merchants should have said No!

I'd have said the needles and drug services should be located on the ground floor of City Hall. Then we'd see how long everyone would put up with it in their backyard. Those that want it should get it, including a first hand view.

Posted by: Runner46 on December 7 2006 4:49 PM

I understand that this initiative had a lot to do with the downtown merchants.

Posted by: Palopu on December 7 2006 7:12 PM

It appears that this needle exchange has only moved across the street from its original location. Isnt it interesting that they would say it is **kitty corner to the Java Mugga Mocha** rather than **Across the street from the Courthouse**

When and if they ever get to PART THREE I wonder if they will be able to locate a public washroom in the new or rented facility. God forbid that they should be so forward thinking,.

In any event there appears to be a plan in place and this can only be a good thing.

Posted by: Chester on December 7 2006 10:46 PM

A needle exchange site, a boozecan, a redlight district or gambling, what is the difference?

Catering to the problem is not a solution to the problem.

If people are addicted, we must treat the addiction by removing the thing they are addicted to. Then the process of rehab or change can begin. Otherwise, where is the incentive to change these old behaviors or habits? Chester

Posted by: owl on December 8 2006 12:39 AM

"I'd have said the needles and drug services should be located on the ground floor of City Hall."

So says YDPC .... this time around .... if the topic were emissions from asphalt plants on th Nechako Bench then he would be complaining about a bunch of cry babies wiht their NIMBY points of view.

A NIMBY stance is okay in the case of downtown needle exchange, but not okay in the case of manufacturing processes impacting the residents.

Rather hypocritical.

Posted by: caranmacil on December 8 2006 12:13 PM

The people who put the NIMBY are generally not the people who's back yards are being affected. I for one thin kthat the rehab of the downtown is doomed as long as all the services for junkies, drunks and prostitutes are grouped there. You will notice i used a few non PC terms there. I think the first step in dealing with a problem is looking it straight in the eye. Canadians are bad at that. Lets call our problems bt their first names and stop bending over backwards to avoid hurting the feelings of people who are (reasons or excuses aside) a burden to society.

Posted by: owl on December 8 2006 5:38 PM

"a burden to society" ....

There is the child who at the age of 25 comes back home to live with mom and dad. Do you reject that child? Is that child a member of the family? Is that child a burden?

There is a child who at age 12 is found to have leukemia. Do you reject that child. Is that child a member of the family. Is that child a burden?

There is a person who is a junkie. Do you reject that person? Is that person not a member of society? Is that person a burden?

Child .... you are a burden on this family. Get the f .. out of this house and go cure yourself.

Rather heartless, isn't it?

Whatever you wish to call it, your compassion shows through loud and clear! NOT!!

Posted by: trusted on December 9 2006 8:00 AM

You bet your ticker tape a junkie is a burden. They become cruel, heartless, self centered, thieves, liars, cheats-want me to go on?
They basically contibute nothing but heartache to a family, and it is self inflicted, not to be taken in the same text as a person stricken with leukemia.
The fact remains, they are still loved-and normally they reject any offer of assistance to rid themselves of their addiction.
Compassion is not in an addicts vocabulary.
Better you walk in someone elses shoes, Owl, before you pass judgement.
Give that a thought.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on December 9 2006 8:11 AM

Posted by: owl on December 8 2006 12:39 AM
"I'd have said the needles and drug services should be located on the ground floor of City Hall."

So says YDPC .... this time around .... if the topic were emissions from asphalt plants on th Nechako Bench then he would be complaining about a bunch of cry babies wiht their NIMBY points of view.

A NIMBY stance is okay in the case of downtown needle exchange, but not okay in the case of manufacturing processes impacting the residents.

Rather hypocritical.

Not really. The location is only two blocks away, the facilities are suitable, and people are not pollution. Or at least that's what is being said.
Likewise I moving an asphalt plant in the industrial gravel source area would be no big deal. Wouldn't change anything.
Owl reasoning is a stretch on this one.

Posted by: Chips on December 9 2006 10:24 AM

The only reasonable and rational comment in all the above is the issue of washrooms. Some decent clean and available washrooms, accessible to downtown core residents would seem to relieve the pressure (pun intended) on local businesses.

The social problems referred to in the various posts have been with us as a society for thousands of years, people will do the damdest things to themselves and others, I for one don't have �the answer�.

Posted by: Chips on December 9 2006 10:43 AM

On another note......
I am I guess one of the NIMBY folks referred to above. all though I don't see myself as such. I am though living within the bowl area and effected by our City Councils misguided approval and support of the asphalt plant that they encouraged to locate within the "Clean Air" zone of our city.

Our city and its population have grown and changed significantly over the last few years. Included in this growth is a change of attitude and expectations that is not yet reflected in our city council. The old days of growth, profit at any cost and the business first attitude are not in tune with current public expectations. On a National, Provincial and Municipal level there is a greater awareness of environmental issues and their impact on our well being.

The support by city council, of the location of the asphalt plant in the �Clean Air� zone, is just one last act of the dieing dinosaurs as they role over and get sucked into the swamp. It will be interesting to look back in a few years, when we have a socially responsible council and consider the issues that caused their demise.

Wishful thinking��.maybe.