B.C. rehab homes face closer scrutiny

The B.C. government is establishing a task force to take a close look at unlicensed support homes for recovering drug and alcohol addicts.

The announcement comes after Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts aired her concerns about the dozens of unlicensed homes inthe city.

Watts told CBC Radio on Wednesday that the province needs to ensure all the homes have a standard level of care.

No guarantees with unlicensed homes

Sherry Mumford, the manager of addiction services with the Fraser Health Authority, says the task force will look at ways of monitoring the recovery homes.

Mumford estimates there are more than 60 unlicensed drug and alcohol recovery homes in Surrey alone.

She says many provide good care, but warns there are no guarantees.

"When you go into unlicensed [homes], you're throwing the dice if you've got complex medical issues or mental health issues because each house in an unlicensed system operates differently."

Mumford says that's why it's important for the province to monitor and set standards forboth licensed and unlicensedrecovery homes.

Housing on the table

Shehopes the province will looking at fundinghousing for people with drug and alcohol addictions because it is also part of rehabilitation.

"You can give clients all the treatment in the world, but if they don't have proper housing to go home to, they will relapse."

Mumford says the medical part of recovery is the responsibility of the health authority, but says proper housing needs to be addressed by the community and the province.

She expects the task force will have its first meeting in September.