Pubdate: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 Source: Lethbridge Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2006 The Lethbridge Herald Contact: http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/239 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) PICTURE BUTTE TABBED FOR YOUTH DETOX PROGRAM BEDS Picture Butte along with other provincial communities will be getting a little extra support for those dealing with drug and alcohol abuse problems. The Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC) is adding more staff, youth treatment beds and a new program to support the Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act (PChAD) that will be taking effect July 1. There will be 20 new beds in communities like Red Deer, Grand Prairie, Calgary, Edmonton and neighbouring Picture Butte. The program aims to help youth and their parents or guardians to better deal with drug abuse when the child is either unable or unwilling to seek help. Under new legislation, the parent or guardian of a child who is abusing drugs in a way deemed severe or endangers the youth can apply to provincial court to have the child placed in a protective safe house for up to five days. AADAC can then provide detoxification services, asses the drugs and alcohol abuse and work with both the child and the parent to develop a voluntary treatment plan. By spring of 2007, AADAC is set to implement another 24 beds for voluntary youth detox and treatment. That will bring the number of beds to 68. In addition to the beds, another 24 front-line staff will be brought in including 10 mobile addictions staff. Each year there are an estimated 30,000 clients who utilize the services and 90,000 people attend prevention activities or receive information from AADAC. The support will help PChAD implement its program development which includes helping minors who are addicted to drugs and cannot help themselves. It also aims to provide an avenue for parents to help their children when all other options for intervention and voluntary treatment have failed. - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl