The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

TeCanadian Champion, Frlday, Februasy 18,2000 - 17 Plan i n works to provide better addiction services By HOWARD MOZEL Special to The Champion Access to addiction treatment programrs is about to improve dramaticaily if the Haiton-Peel District Health Counicil has its way. In ils just-releaseti 'Halton-Peel Adduction Treatment Plan for lIstegrateti Services', thse group advocates several initiatives to better allow individuals entry into programs in ortier for them to receive help expetiitiously. Accortiing to health council senior pianner Ron Wray, the streamlining would include the creation of a toll-free fine as a sin- gle point of entry wo ensure those in neeti are "pluggeti tirectly" into the system. An imtnetiiate assessment coulti then be carrieti out followeti by rout ing to the moît appropriate programn. "You cati make a phone caîl fmmi Toronto to reserve a hotel in Hong Kong through a caîl centre in New Brunswick," said Oakville Mayor Ann Mulvale, chair of the health counicil addic- tion committee. "Wbile meeting the neetis of a porson with an adduction problem is obviously more challenging than booking a rooro, the bottom line should be the samne - gooti customer ser- vice." District health counicils acroîs Ontario were asked by the Ministry of HealtIs st year to develop local plant for re-organiz- ing services. Thse resulting local plan reporteti that in general, funding was being allocateti where it's beit needed. Problemi were founti, however, with how people are able to access and move between programs. Il founti that access is especially prob- lematic for the homeless, seniors, ethno-cultural communities anti those with histories of sexuallphysical abuse anti mental illness. "Ponner clients and healtit anti social professionals tolti us that it's difficult enough facing up to an addiction problem without being bounced arounti or refuseti service," saiti Mr. Wray, atiding that Halton's programns were more integrateti than those in Peel. Those with concurrent disortiers - mental ilîness and sub- stance abuse for example - may be in parallel prograi when a fully integrateti approach is far more effective, saiti Mr. Wray. "This creates a more seamless intervention," hie saiti. The health council plan also calîs for the tievelopment of neigit- bourhood teamrs; with active outreach services to bu placeti in each of Halton-Peel's seven municipalities. The ensuing creation of common policies anti approaches woulti help make sure clients access the most effective services. The 1-800 fine, for instance, would link callers tlirectly wo thse appropriate teamn. 'Ibis system, which Mr. Wray saii lie hopeti to have munning by year's enti, woulti also help professionals compile one waiting liat for service, whereas now a porion coultil bu on more than one. .Mr. Wray expîsneti it has yet wo bu tietermineti whether a local numnber will bu establisheti or whether a partnership will bu creat- eti using a provincial numbur - hopefully with tome ministry fintincial backing. "Halton-Peel will bu one of tie most efficient in tie province." Spealting of funding, Mr. Wray saiti Halton-Peel is among the Iowest-funded districts in Ontario with estimates tuggesting the regions receiveti $7.96 per capita in 1996 while the provincial average was $12.70 per capita. The health council report states that an investment of at lest $4 million is neetiet just to match the 1996 average. You can have a fireplace in any room! Enjoy a Majestic DVR33 with a mantel installed in most any room of your house. HURRY! A deal thîs good wîII flot last! Wre Union EneV, >Sur complete source for ail yorhome comf art sales ansd service sseed. Cali for a f ree in-home estimate or for the showroomn location near you: (905) 469-570 Budlngten 1 OukvIII or 1-888-71-UNION Participant ETYFR * Name Quit smoking 2000 "- City/Town Postal Code ' CONTEST Tel. (borne) _______(work) ______Stay smoke-free for the month of Match and you could WIN! )j Entry form muat b.e slgned mund returned By February 29, 2000 You must be 19 years or older to enter. Signature DaeAil questions must be answered 7. How did you first learn about the contest? Buddes mustbe 9 yars r oder to ualfy or te en~LEl relativelfrienti [l pharmacy Il web site Buddes mustbe 9 yers r ole)1. Date of birtb: Write thse names of two non-smoking friends who you wilt ____ (Y) -___ (M) - (D) El supermarket El T.V. - whicb station(s) see on a regular basis and who can support your quitting 2. Sex: Il F ElmE radio - which station(s) efforts and confirmn that you have flot smoked during the contest period. 3.Ls ero colcmltd lnewspaper - which paper(s) * Name El ~higb school Elcommunity coîlege E te() AddessEluniversîty Elother 8. Since January 17, 2000 how many times did you hear City/Town ___ ____Postal Code____ about the CONTEST in the media (radio, television, Tel. (home) (work) ______ 4. Number of cigarettes smoked a day newspaper)? El1-5 El 6-10 Ell 1- 20 E neyer El1-2 times El3 - 10times Namne ________________ _ E more than 20 El - -20 times El more than 20 times * Addreas 5. Have you trieti to quit before? 9. Since January 17, 2000 how many times titi you hear City/Town ________Postal Code____ about SMOKING (other than the contest) in the media? El Yes ElNoElner Eoneotwe El3-0tie Tel. (home) _______(work) nvr oc rtie 3-1 îe 6. Hw may yars aveyou l1i - 20 times L more than 20 times smoketi?__ Personal Information Mail your entry form to: Or fax to: (905) 825-8588 ibis information is collecteti untier section 5 of the Health protection Act, RSO 1990 C.H7 Ail information collecteti wili bc kept confidential, and except for the Quit Smoking 2000 Contest winners, no individual naines wiIl bc reporteti or referred C/o Halton Region Healtb Departmrent Cail (905) 825-6179 for contest details ta in any publications or reports. The information wili bc Halton Council on Smoking or Health TTY (905) 827-9833 usdta assist in designing future prograi and any151BotRdakilO L6 31 contact will bc donc on a random basis only.151BotRdOkil NL6 3I ........... .................................................................................................. .......................................................