Pubdate: Thu, 25 Jan 2007 Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN) Copyright: 2007 The Leader-Post Ltd. Contact: http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361 Author: Pamela Cowan, The Leader-Post DRUG ADDICTS GETTING MORE SUPPORT The recent Kim Walker murder trial in Yorkton raised fresh concerns about an old problem -- drug addiction's hold on some of the province's residents. Walker was convicted of second-degree murder on Friday after he was found guilty of shooting James Hayward, his addicted daughter's drug-dealing boyfriend in March 2003. The Walker and Hayward families are among many residents who have felt the ripple effect of addictions. "Tragically, thousands of lives are damaged in Saskatchewan every year due to substance abuse," said Premier Lorne Calvert when he unveiled Project Hope in August 2005. From the time of its launch, the new program was to implement additional supports to improve treatment for substance abuse over its first three years. Supports include developing a 12-bed youth stabilization unit in Saskatoon, a 15-bed inpatient residential youth treatment facility in Prince Albert and 12 brief detox beds in Regina, as well as developing outreach centres in Saskatoon and Prince Albert and expanding existing outreach services in North Battleford and Regina. "We're well on our way to implementing a lot of the initiatives that were announced," said Karen Gibbons, Saskatchewan Health's director of program support for mental health and addictions. Six interim youth stabilization beds in Saskatoon became operational in February. "That's for youth who are significantly involved in drug abuse -- it's one step up from detox," Gibbons said. "Then we have the secure youth detox facility in Regina, which has six beds. There were no beds in Regina prior to Project Hope that were exclusively for youths." Most of the outreach workers have been hired. "We have been negotiating a youth treatment centre in Prince Albert and we have an interim facility that's been open and running since April so we have six more treatment beds for youth in the Prince Albert area," Gibbons said. During the high-profile trial in Yorkton last week, the defence portrayed Walker as a father who was desperate to rescue his daughter from a drug addiction. Concerned about their daughter's behaviour and health for months, the Walkers got a Mental Health Services Act warrant from a provincial court judge to commit her to Yorkton's psychiatric ward for a weekend assessment. On the Monday, 16-year-old Jadah was released and reunited with Hayward. At that time, a person could be held for only 72 hours unless the criteria for involuntary treatment under the Mental Health Services Act was met. Jadah didn't meet the criteria so she was released. The Secure Youth Drug Detox legislation that came into effect on April 1 allows an individual, between 12 and 17, to be detained for up to five days in a secure detox facility for detoxification and stabilization. "We've had about 103 people go through the facility since that time," Gibbons said. Two physicians assess whether a youth with a severe drug addiction is likely to harm himself or others or will suffer substantial mental or physical deterioration. The person's ability to make an informed decision about the need to detoxify or his willingness to start the process is also assessed. The detention order can be renewed twice up to a maximum of 15 days. "An individual can go in more than once but you'd have to meet the criteria every time," Gibbons said. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine