Pubdate: Wed, 31 Mar 2010 Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN) Page: A4 Copyright: 2010 The Leader-Post Ltd. Contact: http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) ANOTHER OUTREACH PROGRAM IN SASK. A new program to tackle substance abuse among youth is underway in southern Saskatchewan. Open Connections, an outreach and intervention project in the Five Hills Health Region (covering Moose Jaw and south-central Saskatchewan), is designed to assist youth struggling with a substance abuse problem or at risk of developing one. The project is to receive $1.3 million over three years from Health Canada to help those age 12 to 24 years. "It is a community-based program to provide outreach and early intervention services," explained Terry Hutchinson, the region's mental health and addictions services executive director. "What we're hoping to do is work with community-based organizations to enhance their capacity for providing a continuum of treatment and recovery programs for youths." A number of community agencies were involved in developing the program, he added. "It really is to enhance some capacity to provide some education and supports to community programs that are already existing out there." Open Connections will include an outreach component to engage youth outside of traditional school and clinic settings. The goals include developing meaningful, trusting relationship with youth and also equipping them with skills, such as problem-solving, to deal with the issue. While drugs are often seen as a big city problem, Hutchinson said there is clearly a need for the service in their area as well. Problems drugs include alcohol, marijuana and cocaine. "We see in our region mostly what you'd see in every other region, but alcohol is certainly the number one priority," Hutchinson said. The project will target youths in Moose Jaw since it is the largest centre in the health region, but will look at expanding into other rural areas within the health region as well. Although the project was announced on Tuesday, services have been offered since January. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom