I read this a while back and it fascinated me. I was mildly attracted to the idea, knowing I needed serious help at the time. Anyhow, I’ll branch out from NYT clips here soon. This is still really interesting …

“Delray Beach is in a class by itself, experts say, because of its compact geography and critical mass of recovering addicts who cross paths daily in the shops and bistros along Atlantic Avenue. They fly beneath the radar of tourists oblivious to telltale signs of addiction, like unapologetic chain smoking. But they see one another everywhere.” –Read more here.

(I’m considering a move back to YVR in the sort-of distant future. Goal? Work with addicts and poor people on the Downtown Eastside either here or here. I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time. But instead of making it happen, I got drunk and felt sorry for myself while assuming “hipster” armor at Linda’s.

Hey there, hipster. Vancouver’s (perhaps Cascadia’s?!) best band, Black Mountain (LISTEN TO THEM NOW) is working at InSite, according to the new issue of Magnet. Right on. (Full disclosure: I have a crush on Steve McBean.)

…

Where was I? Anyhow, the article of note:

“By her second week at the Salvation Army’s Harbour Light detox centre, Darlene Rowley had enough strength to keep her eyelids open, walk without shuffling and speak without straining for each word.

It was a vast improvement over her first week in the Downtown Eastside detox facility, when every movement seemed a struggle for the engaging woman.

Rowley, 43, has been addicted to drugs on and off for many years. She’s hoping to get straight this time.

“I’ve reached bottom. I’ve been through drug psychosis — I have thought that people wanted to kill me.”

But the odds are likely stacked against her. Again. Stan Karbowiak, a social worker who is Harbour Light’s acting human resources administrator, has compiled statistics showing that across B.C., only 30 per cent of detox/recovery beds are available to women.”

Read the article here:

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=9a911966-9504-4978-97c9-5721b5baaff8&k=60774