Re: "A young life comes full circle," Aug. 19.
I commend Carole James and her son Evan, who is now in recovery from addiction, for coming forward to tell their stories.
I am an addictions counsellor who has worked in both the private and public sectors on Vancouver Island. Before this, I worked in the public sector in Edmonton. I am amazed at the lack of treatment for people on the island. The article states that private services are available that most can't afford, and that there is nothing for treatment in the public sector.
It is appalling that nothing is available to the majority of people who suffer from addictions. It is hard to believe that this is the case for a capital city. In Edmonton, treatment centres are funded by the government and everyone can access these services without having to pay the exorbitant prices of private residential treatment centres.
My hat is off to Evan for being able to recover in this system. It obviously was due to Gordon Harper, executive director of Umbrella, for truly caring about Evan that he had a fighting chance in his recovery. I doubt that the government services were much help.
Addiction is a disease. Can you imagine what kind of public outcry there would be if the same services were offered to people with cancer that are available for people who suffer from addictions?
Jo-Anne Sutherland
Duncan
