NDP slams BC Liberals over unregulated drug recovery houses
- March 4, 2009 10:01 AM
- By Enza Uda
CBC report exposed private operators exploiting recovering addicts
B.C.'s Health Minister George Abbott is promising to investigate unregulated recovery houses following a CBC News report operators are taking social assistance cheques from drug addicts in exchange for unsafe, overcrowded accommodation.
CBC News found more than 100 Lower Mainland homes have been turned into rooming houses for addicts who want to kick their habit.
The private organizations rent inexpensive homes in suburban neighbourhoods, homes that are often in disrepair. They then rent out spaces to recovering drug addicts and/or alcoholics.
Typically, the homes collect room-and-board money from the addicts by arranging to have their monthly welfare cheques paid directly to the organization. Residents said they are often left to essentially run the homes on their own, with little or no direct supervision.
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