Pubdate: Fri, 27 May 2005 Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN) Copyright: 2005 The Leader-Post Ltd. Contact: http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361 Author: Veronica Rhodes Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) FORMER METH ADDICT EAGER TO SEE BILL PASSED The mother of a former crystal meth addict says her daughter could have been spared from a serious overdose if provincial legislation allowed them to force her into treatment. "It would have helped us to the point that we could have gotten her into treatment, then that gives us 30-days grace. That gives us 30 days to figure out what we're going to do," said Georgina Bergen, mother of 21-year-old Sandy of Biggar, who had been using drugs for years. "Because, once they are 16, you have no option. I would put her into treatment and she would phone me and say 'I'm on the bus, I'm coming home' the very next day. What was I going to do, I can't force her to stay. She'll get herself thrown out if she doesn't want to be there." Saskatchewan Party MLA June Draude introduced a private members' bill last month, which would see legal guardians able to force their drug-addicted children under the age of 18 into treatment. Under the act, legal guardians would make an application to a court to have the child apprehended and confined to a safe house for no more than 30 days. If the court grants the application and the child is admitted to the safe house, he/she would undergo an assessment by the director of the facility and then begin detoxification and treatment. Last May, Sandy spent 10 days in a coma after overdosing on crystal meth -- a drug she became addicted to the first time she used it. Sandy was present at the Legislature Thursday with her mom and father Stan. "I came out to tell my story so this government stops dragging their feet on this bill and they pass it, so parents don't have to watch their children kill themselves," said Sandy. Draude brought up the Bergen case during question period Thursday, questioning the government on what they were doing for families with drug-addicted children. Draude explained that after Sandy overdosed on crystal meth last May, doctors told her parents that Sandy wouldn't live. "All of her organs were failing, her heart was as hard as a rock, her lungs had collapsed and all of her veins had hardened ... When she finally came out of the coma, she was released into her family's care within three days. She could hardly walk and she was given no after-care except a follow-up EKG. This family was given no support, no homecare, no addictions counselling, no treatment, no nothing," explained Draude, who asked the government to allow the bill to go to the committee stage, to bring parents one step closer to getting their children help. Community Resources and Employment Minister Joanne Crofford said that there are many people who are currently examining the provisions of the bill, such as how long a youth should be detained and if there should be an appeal process. Youth will be consulted about the bill, as well as professionals who handle addictions treatment. "There is no question that there needs to be more tools for parents and youth for dealing with addiction, but there is also a large number of people that do this for a profession and we want to hear from them," said Crofford following question period. Crofford said she is committed to using the powers of section 18 of the Child and Family Services Act that allows for children under the age of 16 to be apprehended and returned to the care of either their family or a foster home or become a ward of the minister. Crofford said she will also wait for the final report from Graham Addley, the legislative secretary on substance abuse prevention and treatment, who is studying the province's addictions policies and programs. If there is a legislative response to the bill, Crofford said it will come in the fall session. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth