St. John's detox centre smoking ban criticized
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 6, 2009 | 9:18 AM ET
CBC News
The new anti-smoking rules for facilities run by Eastern Health are being criticized by people who work in the addictions field.
Smoking is no longer allowed on any of the properties run by Newfoundland and Labrador's largest health-care corporation, including the detoxification centre in St. John's.
An alcoholic seeking treatment was kicked out of the centre last week for smoking just outside of the building.
Addictions specialist Dr. Richard Kimberley, who teaches addictions assessment and counselling at Memorial University, said he is worried that the tough approach will turn some people away from seeking help for addictions to drugs and alcohol.
"What's happening here," Kimberley said, "flies in the face of what we know about motivating addicted people to change."
Kimberley said it's not easy to tell someone who has a drug or alcohol addiction that they can't have a cigarette.
"What's reasonable and rational for the average person, is not necessarily reasonable and rational for someone who has severe and multiple addictions."
Ron Fitzpatrick of Turnings, an agency that tries to help ex-addicts and convicts turn around their lives, agrees.
"A lot of times people say, 'Give it up!' You wouldn't know if you were talking about apple pie or something."
Fitzpatrick said people need to understand how hard it is for someone who has an addiction to drugs or alcohol to walk through the doors of the detox centre.
"They're seeking help. You've got them where they can get help, and all they're saying is 'Can I have a smoke or two, during that day?' To me, that's a very small price to pay."
