Pubdate: Sat, 29 Jan 2005
Source: St. Albert Gazette (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 St. Albert Gazette
Contact:  http://www.stalbertgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2919
Author: Mark Wells
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

MLA CALLS FOR TEAM EFFORT

Health System Gears Up for Meth Addiction

While a growing number of families struggle with crystal meth addiction, 
government agencies are scrambling to co-ordinate prevention and treatment 
strategies.

"These patients are much more psychotic, they're sicker, they're more 
aggressive. [Emergency units] tend to see them and they tend to end up in 
secure treatment," said Dr. Patrick J. White, Capital Health's regional 
clinical program director for psychiatry.

White also works on the front lines with beds at Alberta Hospital. He says 
he and his colleagues have seen the problem boom in the last two to three 
years, with patients coming from across the region. The Royal Alexandra 
Hospital saw 4,500 psychiatric assessments last year, while other hospitals 
in the region had between 2,500 and 3,500 assessments. A significant number 
of those assessments, up to 60 per cent, also identify substance abuse 
problems.

The combination of mental health issues and substance abuse calls for a 
concerted effort between emergency and internal medical professions, as 
well as psychiatry and mental health, White said.

"I see patients quite frequently from St. Albert with these problems," he 
said. "In my own clinical experience they tend to be younger patients in 
the 18-22 age group, which is a huge concern ... you have a significant 
number of patients developing chronic, psychotic, or psychiatric symptoms. 
That has huge implications for treatment services."

Solutions are being devised in an AADAC review of services requested by the 
Alberta Mental Health Board and through the co-ordinated efforts of Capital 
Health and the police. One of the biggest problems facing these groups lies 
in getting patients referred to appropriate treatment. Many are referred 
directly from emergency rooms after a psychotic episode, but an unknown 
number try to seek help before such a crisis.

One St. Albert mother told of her own difficulties at the "Growing Up in 
St. Albert" forum Tuesday.

"As far as I understand there aren't any [treatment services]. I've left 
five or six messages with AADAC and never, ever had a call returned," said 
the woman, who identified herself only as Carrie. "You can go to Edmonton 
or Sherwood Park, but there's nothing here ... It goes beyond just crystal 
meth. It's crack cocaine and pot. There's a large amount of parents trying 
to help their kids and not getting any support."

St. Albert Liberal MLA Jack Flaherty was at a caucus meeting in Calgary 
when the forum was held, but he has heard similar concerns from residents.

"AADAC is not doing the job, if that's the agency that's supposed to be 
doing it. We're talking about gaps in service. We're assuming these things 
[treatment] are happening and they're not," he said.

He also criticized AADAC for bungling a stop-smoking hotline which has been 
giving out incorrect contact information for nicotine cessation treatments 
for the past seven months.

Flaherty praised school boards, which have DARE prevention programs and 
drug-sniffing dogs in schools, but said those initiatives need to be 
scrutinized for their effectiveness and seen as part of a larger program. 
He wants the community directly involved in refining access to treatment.

"All these boards are doing their very best and I want to bring their 
concerns forward," he said.

Red Deer Conservative MLA Mary-Anne Jablonski is expected to introduce a 
private member's bill which would allow youth with severe addictions to be 
held in secure treatment. Critics have said the bill will not hold up to a 
legal challenge if it is passed. Dr. White wouldn't comment on the merit of 
the bill, but said it was a positive development, because it indicates 
greater public awareness of the problem and government willingness to deal 
with it.
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