Pubdate: Sun, 27 Mar 2005 Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Copyright: 2005, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://www.canoe.com/NewsStand/EdmontonSun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135 Author: Ajay Bhardwaj Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) 'A WAY TO SAVE KIDS' The provincial government must find a way to implement a bill that would force drug-addicted kids into treatment centres, say proponents. "It's so important," said an 18-year-old former ecstasy addict. "You don't want to give up on a kid. I know people who won't get out and they'll die." Red Deer MLA Mary Anne Jablonski's Bill 202, the Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act, would allow parents to force drug-addicted kids into treatment. But while the bill has passed second reading, Justice Minister Ron Stevens said "there are serious legal issues with it" and it's likely doomed. Parents powerless to help their drug-addicted children would try everything to break that addiction, said Patrick, the father of the 18-year-old who spoke to the Sun. "I think with Bill 202, I don't think it's going to be a parents' first choice," he said. "But Bill 202 gives you a place when you know you're at a point where a child needs help. "I think it's a great bill," he added. Patrick said he spent six hours on the phone one day alone trying to find help for his daughter, who was addicted to rave-scene drugs like ecstasy. He called every agency. All told him to bring his daughter in, but that was the problem. Lynn also couldn't find help for her then 15-year-old crystal meth-addicted daughter. "Had (Bill) 202 been around at that time I wouldn't have had that problem," she said. She had few options - hope her child would be arrested, have her declared incompetent - available to help her daughter. She said the provincial government can help. "I'd tell (Stevens) to figure this out," said Lynn. "We need to have a way to save our kids. Parents are so powerless in this system." She eventually got her daughter into two treatment centres to break the addiction. "I was very, very lucky," Lynn said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom