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. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman