Pubdate: Wed, 19 Oct 2005
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 The Edmonton Journal
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: Noemi LoPinto
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

AGENCY NEEDS HELP DEALING WITH DRUG USE

Parents Can't Cope With Crystal Meth Kids

EDMONTON - Catholic Social Services needs an in-house addictions counsellor 
to help crystal methamphetamine addicts, agency officials said Tuesday at 
the kickoff to its annual fundraising campaign.

"I am getting calls from parents of kids actively using crystal meth," said 
Al Gordon, program manager of substance abuse and corrections with Catholic 
Social Services.

"And there is violence in the house."

The 22nd annual Sign of Hope campaign hopes to raise $1.92 million. It 
plans to set up the program for addicts if it exceeds its goal.

The 44-year-old agency delivers more than 100 programs to a client base of 
60,000 people in Edmonton and northeast Alberta.

Catholic Social Services has programs for drug addicted men, people on 
parole from federal institutions, and residential services for youths 
charged under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. But it is forced to re-direct 
families struggling with drug addictions to other organizations.

Gordon said the more help social service agencies can provide, the better 
it is for everyone. "When dealing with addictions, no one person has a 
solution. We need to work as a community and as a group by adding an extra 
voice, and extra resources. There is never enough counselling."

Last April, the provincial government set aside more than $4 million in its 
budget to increase capacity at drug-treatment facilities to deal with an 
expected influx of teens addicted to methamphetamine.

The Alberta legislature also agreed to fast-track Bill 202, which would 
allow parents to force drug-addicted teenagers into detox programs.

The scope of the bill is limited to only allowing parents to compel their 
children to submit to five days of supervised detoxification, and has yet 
to become law.

Catholic Social Service's Megan Kompf, program manager for children and 
youth service, described the government's initiative as being "in it's infancy.

"It allows for a thumbnail sketch," she said. "Five days just isn't enough 
unless you have a more long-term plan for afterwards."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom