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." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom