Pubdate: Fri, 05 Aug 2005
Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN)
Copyright: 2005 The Leader-Post Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361
Author: Darren Bernhardt, Saskatchewan News Network; CanWest News Service
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

$30M MORE FOR DRUG ABUSE BATTLE

A $30-million plan to combat substance abuse will give Saskatchewan one of 
the most comprehensive treatment and prevention programs on the continent, 
Premier Lorne Calvert announced Thursday.

Project Hope will be one of the "lasting legacies" of the province's 
centennial year, he told a large gathering of political and community 
leaders in Saskatoon. Many people wore yellow buttons with black lettering, 
"Uniting to Heal."

But the Saskatchewan Party called the plan "extremely disappointing."

"I feel like I've been kicked in the stomach because for two years we've 
been trying to get somebody to recognize we have to deal with something 
right now," said Sask. Party MLA June Draude.

"Everything (the NDP) are doing, they're saying they're going to basically 
do it next year. For a family that has somebody in trouble right now, it's 
not going to help them. They're not going to go to bed tonight feeling any 
better.

"I think people have been cheated."

Project Hope was launched in conjunction with the release of NDP MLA Graham 
Addley's long-awaited substance abuse report and recommendations. Between 
January and June 2005, Addley reviewed current substance abuse and 
treatment services in Saskatchewan, consulting with more than 50 
stakeholders groups. His report was passed on to Calvert at the end of 
June, resulting in Project Hope.

The government will commit $10 million annually over the next three years 
to implement the plan, based on 15 recommendations in Addley's report.

It calls for initiatives involving personnel, programs and construction of 
brand new facilities. Several beds for treatment will be added in major 
centres while northern communities will be served by more counsellors and a 
mobile treatment service.

Methadone services and outreach services will be expanded while treatment 
will be available to offenders in custody and those appearing before a new 
drug treatment court. A pilot project for the latter will begin in Regina 
this fall.

Substance abuse services will be enhanced through expanded training for 
professionals in the substance abuse and mental health fields as well as 
the development of a provincial database containing up-to-date information 
on treatment options.

The government will also host an annual clinical conference for those in 
the addictions fields.

"Substance abuse is a terrible and dangerous problem. We must act quickly 
to take greater control," said Addley, noting four per cent of the 
Saskatchewan population is dependent on alcohol -- the highest of any 
Canadian province. As well, 30 to 70 per cent of crime is associated with 
substance abuse.

The cost to health, policing and family support due to substance abuse is 
$266 million each year, he added.

It's not enough, however, to simply address treatment, said Calvert. 
Prevention is also key, which means fighting the source of the problem.

"Too many of our young people are losing their futures to drugs and 
alcohol. I want those who destroy the hope of our young people ... to know 
they are not welcome in our province."

Four additional drug enforcement officers will be hired by the RCMP and two 
additional officers to enforce the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act 
(SCAN). The NDP will urge the federal government to strengthen penalties 
for drug possession and the province will build MethWatch, a coalition of 
retail and wholesale businesses to restrict the supply of ingredients used 
to manufacture crystal meth.

"We are going after the source," said Calvert. "Project Hope will ensure 
that Saskatchewan will be home to one of the most integrated and 
comprehensive systems for preventing and treating substance abuse in Canada 
and dare I say, in North America."

One thing the plan doesn't address is forced treatment of addicts who 
refuse help. Community Resources Minister Joanne Crofford is studying the 
matter and "where it would be appropriate" to require people, against their 
will, to enter a program, Calvert said.

"We want to respect all the questions of individual freedoms and rights. 
But we also want to respect the fact that when a person reaches the point 
of an obvious need for treatment, that we can get that to them."

Crofford will provide a report in the fall, he said, noting the drug court 
will have the power to order treatment to offenders.

Program consultants will be hired immediately to introduce, develop and 
implement the initiatives in Project Hope. A research chair at the U 
of-will be in place by the fall, as will the community resource materials 
and officers. Many more proposals will be in place in 2006, transitional 
housing so addicts aren't sent back to the source of the problem, family 
respite support, and an accreditation process for all substance abuse 
programs. A provincial alcohol and drug survey will also be conducted in 
early 2006.

Construction of a family treatment centre will begin in spring 2006 but it 
won't be accepting clients until fall 2007. Other treatment centres will be 
operational by spring 2008.

That's not soon enough, said Sask. Party MLA Ted Merriman. "It is extremely 
disappointing that we're not starting immediately (with the treatment). 
We've recognized that there are children dying in our city and other cities 
in the province. Why do we have to wait until 2008?"

He suggested the NDP might be saving it to use as election leverage.

"There are facilities today that are capable of being used as treatment 
centres. There's an empty hospital in Davidson," he said. "It's great we're 
going to have a database and it's great we're going to have studies and 
it's great we're going to have administration. But when are we going to put 
the bricks and mortar on the street that are going to affect the kids at 
the bottom of the pile?"

The Sask. Party was also looking for something to address the need for meth 
addicts to have 180 days of treatment, if not more.

"To look at a 15-bed treatment centre in Saskatoon, using his (Calvert's) 
estimates of 150 people going through it annually, means we're spinning 
them in between 28-45 days. That's certainly not extended treatment 
whatsoever," said Merriman, adding a 30-40 bed facility is needed in 
Saskatoon to treat substance abuse.

Dave Henry, RCMP drug awareness co-ordinator, called the NDP plan a step in 
the right direction.

"I think it's a good message that they do want to crack down and do 
something about it."

Prince Albert Mayor Jim Stiglitz said the plan provides "a lot more than 
what I thought (it would).

"Now there's hope, and that's the greatest thing. Parents now can be 
relieved that if their kids get into this kind of predicament, there is 
hope," he said.

HIGHLIGHTS

Addictions and drug abuse issues in Saskatchewan, and the government's 
response:

- - Saskatchewan has highest rates of alcoholism in Canada; government plans 
expanded treatment, major educational efforts to turn attitudes around.

- - Alcohol use costs the Saskatchewan economy over $260 million a year, 
including direct health care costs, law enforcement, lost productivity.

- - Addiction problems particularly acute among aboriginal people and in the 
north; new youth treatment centre planned for Prince Albert in co-operation 
with First Nations and Ottawa.

- - More facilities needed for youth detox and treatment; government promises 
capacity will triple over three years. New money will provide treatment for 
125 young people a year in Prince Albert, stabilization for another 600 
teens in Saskatoon, a doubling of detox capacity in Regina to accommodate 
up to 4,400 admissions a year.

- - Early action required to prevent Saskatchewan from becoming a haven for 
meth labs; government promises further restrictions on sale of meth 
ingredients and promotion of hotline to report meth labs and marijuana grow 
ops.

- - More resources needed for awareness and harm prevention programs aimed at 
reducing HIV and Hepatitis C transmission among injection drug users; 
government promises enhanced needle exchange programs but no safe injection 
sites.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom