Idea for Moose Springs Resort

Friday, April 06, 2007 04:15 AM

Baldy Hughes aka Moose Springs Resort, just might have a future as a rehab town. (photo courtesy Ritchie Bros Auction)

The former forces base was toured recently by Vancouver-Burrard MLA Lorne Mayencourt. He had visited Prince George to talk about the possibility of a drug addiction rehabilitation program like the one operated in San Patrignano, Italy. see previous story

That village is home to those who are either overcoming an addition or are helping others overcome an addiction. The San Patrignano web site describes the village as a community of living that focuses on the human being. The project takes a holistic approach to treating the person not just the addiction.

"Among the problems that face the drug addict, drug use is the leaset relevent, the core of the problem is not drugs, or the inability to abstain: it is the human being with his fears and the black holes that threaten to suck him in.

That is why I do not like to say or hear that our community is for drug addicts. Ours is a community for life, where you can begin living again after years spendt as a social outcast. Ours, if we really need a definition is a community agianst social outcasting."

-Vincenzo Muccioli Funder of the San Patrignano Community.

The San Patrgnano recovery model has a 75 % success rate.

In B.C. the recovery success rate runs in the 10 - 15% range.

As Mayencourt takes his message about San Patrignano around the province, he has also been taking a look at possible sites.

Among them , a visit to Moose Springs Resort, formerly Baldy Hughes Forces base..

Recently sold to Alberta interests in an auction, Moos Springs Resort is a place waiting for something to happen. The former base does have a certain appeal says Mayencourt as it already has many of the elements that would be needed to create a San Patrignano type village " It has the infrastructure, the dormitory style housing, dining room, potential for a medical centre and it has recreational facilities".

Mayencourt says recreational facilities are a key, "It would be very boring just to go to AA type meetings, everyone agrees there is much to be gained through recreation where the lessons of team membership and team building can be advanced. Baldy Hughes has all the elements to give people a balanced lifestyle".

People who would be part of such a community would do so on a totally voluntary basis. Mayencourt says such a community would not only offer a safe place for those who have embarked on the're "healing journey" but would help reconnect them with community by helping them develop their personal skills and a trade. That is something else the former forces base has in ts favour, workshops.

"I don't want to pursue any avenue just yet" says Mayencourt , he still has some travelling to do to raise awareness about this kind of treatment program. He likes what he sees at Baldy Hughes, but has yet to talk to the owners, and has other discussions set with a rancher in the Ashcroft region.

Will it happen? Mayencourt doesn't know if there will ever be such a place developed in B.C. "I can't guarantee it will happen, this is not a government initiative, but I will have two groups of MBA students develop two different sets of business plans to see how it could work.."

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Posted on Friday, April 06, 2007 04:15 AM in Health by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: jonnypg on April 6 2007 7:17 AM

Great....we get all the rejects from Vancouver!.Lets put it to a vote first hey.

Posted by: owl on April 6 2007 8:41 AM

The San Patrignano site is interesting. It speaks about a vintner who is promoting the idea that people have to learn to differentiate between wine as a food and wine as a mind altering intoxicant.

I am wondering whether alcohol and drug rehab programs in BC take the same enlightened approach.

I think that approach by itself would increase the success rate.

;-)

Posted by: Runner46 on April 6 2007 8:57 AM

My God...............it is not Moose Springs, but the whole of Prince George is waiting for something to happen!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Runner46 on April 6 2007 8:58 AM

Betcha we get more than one nimby on this article.

Posted by: snappi on April 6 2007 9:02 AM

Now there we go...a few rehab centers may be more beneficial than all the new liquor stores.

Posted by: heidi1555 on April 6 2007 9:40 AM

No kidding Snappi. I think this rehab idea is one of the best things i've heard of in a very long time and if it's conducted the same way with a 75% success rate then I say what are we waiting for and it's about darn time. Can't think of it as all the rejects coming to our area jonnypg but have to think of it as people who voluntarily go obviously want to better their lives and they deserve to try and we should welcome them with support and open arms. People recovering are better than druggies/alcoholics next door don't you think?

Posted by: REALIST on April 6 2007 9:54 AM

Actually, if you do the research this is just another liberal attempt to lock away the problems they have created. Unfortunately, most people are too il informed to truley understand what this is about. This is seen in Mr. Meisner's complete acceptance of this smoke and mirrrors presentation. I attended this meeting and Mayencoue=rt revealled hi real intentions when he blurted out that addicts are immature. Start asking real questions about the connections between addiction and all mood altering substances (guess what guys that includes alcohol) and you will see the reality. Ask about those dual diagnosed with addictions and mental illness and you will realize that these people are not included. It is estimated that over 80% of addicted are dual diagnosed. This is not a break through this is a return to nazi concentration camps. But don't take my work for it talk to the real experts who work with addicts everyday. The only thing that gives this a thin vaneer of sense is the recognition that drug addiction requires long term interventions. The reason why Lorne is promoting this is because it provides the look of providing solutions while thae government financial output is minimal. They want to fix the problems they created with a large fake band-aid that is in fact a fake solution. Pleas find out the truth about this before you support it. The real estimates of sucess in Italy are not what they claim to be. If you support this you will be throwing yet more of our taxmoney out the window on false intellect.I doubt many here will agree with this post but you must learn the truth instead of beleiving a government who has consistantly lied to you. Wake up!!!!

Posted by: Harbinger on April 6 2007 10:11 AM

On another note, will there be a shuttle bus service to downtown regularly? Kinda like the old folks home down on 5th and whatever?

Posted by: Harbinger on April 6 2007 10:19 AM

Are these alleged druggies gonna be forced or will they volunteer to be shipped out of warm Vancouver? Show them our average mean temperature chart before they come. They might balk. Maybe when they are almost clean, it will get too cold fer them southern sissies, and they will head back down to Vancouver and fall back into their rut again. Could happen. Warmer in Osoyoos. Nicer, too. Oh well. Prince George, the base of the drug gulag in this province. Hmmmm? Should be interesting.

Posted by: kevin1006 on April 6 2007 11:29 AM

Realist: You never mention how the state is to blame for creating drug addiction? You mean all through human history it has always been the state's fault that people abuse drugs? Are you serious? Who is out of touch with reality?

This approach is worth a try. Remember the statement: Those that try the same thing over and over, expecting a different outcome with each attempt are the people that are insane. The old ways don't work... let us try another approach and give it enough time and effort to see if it will work. We can always try another approach later if it does not.

Posted by: HepCat on April 6 2007 12:12 PM

There are lies, damned lies and statistics.

Sure, the San Patrignano success rate is 75%. That's like saying private schools, which get to choose their students from the cream of the crop, have better success rates than public schools that have to accept whoever walks in the door. The ones who attend facilities like this are chosen for the program as likely candidates for success. There's nothing wrong with that, but you can't compare their success rates to the general population success rates.

Facilities like this may be a good piece of the puzzle in addressing drug addiction, but there needs to be a broader strategy, one that treats drug use and addiction is primarily a medical problem, rather than a criminal problem.

We also need to have the guts to look at all recreational drug use in the same way: that includes nicotine, alcohol and caffeine, as well as illicit drugs. All have impact on overall health.

The truth is we have a fixation with drugs in our society which is more than a little unhealthy. The fact that we need one drug to wake up (caffeine), one to help us relieve short-term stress (nicotine) and one that we apparently need to enjoy a hockey game (alcohol) is a pretty stirring condemnation of the lives we lead.

It would be interesting to see a group of ordinary citizens commit to go totally drug-free for a month. How would they cope? Would their lives be better off in the short term? Would their health be better at the end of the month?

And would they need to spend a month at a former military installation to actually make it through that month?

Posted by: diplomat on April 6 2007 1:03 PM

"Realist: You never mention how the state is to blame for creating drug addiction? You mean all through human history it has always been the state's fault that people abuse drugs? Are you serious? Who is out of touch with reality?'

One doesn't have to explain how and why it is the Liberals fault.

It is obvious - only when the NDP is in power is it not the government's fault!

Posted by: owl on April 6 2007 2:55 PM

"Can't think of it as all the rejects coming to our area jonnypg"

Just remember .... Australia started off, after the aboriginals inhabited the place for tens of thousands of years, as a penal colony. Lots of rejects there.

Just look at what happened to the mother country that got rid of its best stock ...

;-)

Posted by: HepCat on April 6 2007 2:55 PM

Pot, meet Kettle.

Posted by: owl on April 6 2007 3:05 PM

qwaszxter ... thanks for the further information about the program details. It sound like an excellent approach and much needed approach. I think that in that light, the location under discussion could very well fit in as ONE of the locations where such a program should be provided in BC.

If I ever had the same problem, I must say, I would opt to attend one in Tofino. The sea is a great cure all for me.

Posted by: owl on April 6 2007 3:07 PM

Pot???? .... as in weed????

Posted by: HepCat on April 6 2007 5:19 PM

Funny. Never thought of that. 'Twas referring, of course, to the guy who blames everything on the NDP criticizing someone for never saying anything nice about the Libs.

Posted by: lmorg on April 6 2007 6:30 PM

Piss on that rehab resort idea. PG has enough problems with drug and alcohol related crime.....we don't want any transferrees here thanks.

Regarding Baldy Hughes: this is a gem of a place if it gets developed correctly....for people who actually contribute to society...not the druggies who had a chance to contribute but threw it away....

Take down the old military buildings and construct a whistler style resort with chalet style cabins etc....if the people from calgary got the dough to do it believe me there are a lot of people who will come and stay. Youre 20 minutes from the city but when you sit at one of the rv spots on a summer night and have the campfire going, you'd think you were in the most serene spot! Don't wreck it by turning it into a drug rehab center.

Posted by: Mcfly on April 7 2007 7:45 AM

Funniest part is bringing in outsiders with drug problems, will give a new market to the drug sellers....I bet they that sell are reading this and smiling....