Pubdate: Sun, 20 Feb 2005
Source: Camrose Canadian (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 Camrose Canadian
Contact:  http://www.camrosecanadian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2160
Author: Amanda Kuttnick-Dyer, Staff Reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

POSITIVE

Assistance Available For Drug Addicted Teens

Help may be on the way for drug addicted teens.

Health minister Iris Evans confirmed Feb. 7 that funding will be available 
for four residential treatment centres for youth.

Evans also noted that if it's possible, she'd like to see these treatment 
centres secured so young addicts can't escape back to the streets.

"We are presenting a budget and we will be working on those programs," she 
told the Edmonton Sun.

She said that AADAC is developing a plan for treatment centres across the 
province. She did not expand on where the treatment centres might be 
located or how much was budgeted for their operation.

Good move

Yvonne Allan the chair of the Drug Response Task Force hails the provincial 
announcement. "I think something our group identified was the lack of 
treatment centres for youth. There are a lot (of treatment centres) for 
adults and those geared for addictions to different drugs."

The detox program for some drugs or alcohol can be as little as three 
months, however for crystal meth users it may be up to one year before 
users are considered clean.

Secure facilities

Allen supports the move to include secure treatments for youth.

"We're aware there has been an advocacy effort to try and get that type of 
law or change in place."

The Drug Response Task Force meets twice a month and is developing some 
priorities for the year, which include continued education and awareness, 
support for youth and parents and linking with other drug response groups 
across the province.

The board agreed to host a Community Mobilization Program grant on behalf 
of the Battle River Drug Response Task Force. The division's responsibility 
will include hosting and distributing the grant funds in addition to 
providing space for a contract coordinator who will oversee a proposed 
youth leadership conference slated for October 2005.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom