Pubdate: Tue, 04 Apr 2006
Source: Prince Albert Daily Herald (CN SN)
Copyright: 2006 Prince Albert Daily Herald
Contact:  http://www.paherald.sk.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1918
Author: Brigette Jobin, Herald Staff
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

MOTHER WELCOMES NEW DETOX LAW FOR KIDS

No matter who a local mother talked to, she was told  there was 
nothing she could do about her crystal  meth-addicted daughter.

However, a new law giving parents the ability to force  their 
children into detox has changed that.

The mother, who cannot be named to protect the identity  of her 
daughter, spearheaded a petition to get the  government to help 
parents and guardians fight their  children's drug addictions with 
involuntary care.

The results of that petition could be seen this past  weekend, when a 
new law came into affect allowing  parents to force their kids into detox.

"It's a beginning and I'm glad to see something  started, but it's 
only a beginning. A lot more needs to  be done," said the mother, 
whose 17-year-old daughter  started using crystal meth at 13 when a 
27-year-old  convinced her to try it.

Under the Youth Drug Detoxification and Stabilization  Act, parents 
or guardians of youths aged 12 to 17 can  ask a judge to assess them 
to determine whether they  need involuntary care in a secure facility.

"Just before Christmas one year, my daughter's  boyfriend called and 
said he needed to bring her home.  When she got here, she had meth 
sores on her face, she  was skinny, her eyes were black and when she 
talked it  was like she had marbles in her mouth aE" nothing made 
sense," recalled the mother.

It's been a five-year struggle to help get her daughter  off the 
extremely addictive drug.

The daughter has had three relapses but has now been  off crystal 
meth for almost five months.

Over the years, the mother said she begged judges to  put her 
daughter in detox.

Now with the new law, she hopes parents going through  the same 
struggles will have an easier time getting  help for their children.

"Maybe they can catch the addiction faster. Your hands  are tied less."

However, she doesn't agree with some parts of the new law.

She said the new law does not allow parents to have a  say in the 
treatment of their child.

And the five-to 15-day involuntary care stay in a  secure facility 
for detoxification is not long enough,  she said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman