Pubdate: Monday 28 December 1998 Source: Vancouver Sun (Canada) Contact: http://www.vancouversun.com/ Copyright: The Vancouver Sun 1998 Author: Dawn Brett TEENS FUEL CHRISTMAS RUSH FOR HEROIN REHAB After blazing through his last stash of "recreational" heroin, Frank Viscount knew he was in trouble. He was broke, fast-becoming dope sick and his parents were home. Unsure what to do as his 17-year-old body craved another quick hit, he holed up in his bedroom to sweat it out. His church-going parents unknowingly puttered around their Maple Ridge house as he lay on his bed in the fetal position, knees pressed hard against his stomach as he fought "super cramps" he thought would never end. "I think my mom just thought I was lazy," recalled Viscount, now 20 and recovering from his year spent "chasing the dragon" -- a common term for smoking heroin. While Viscount's story is disturbing, it's not that uncommon. Increased heroin use among so-called regular kids is now fuelling a rush on the Lower Mainland's rehabilitation services, according to some who work locally with addicted youth. "We're seeing more middle-class heroin smokers than ever before," said addictions consultant Dr. Ray Baker of HealthQuest Comprehensive Care, a private drug rehabilitation centre in Vancouver. While there are no statistics on the number of well-heeled youth now looking for drug counselling and rehabilitation services, some who work in the field are calling it a Christmas rush. Local officials have long raised alarm bells about increased heroin use in some of the Lower Mainland's most unlikely communities -- from West Vancouver to Port Coquitlam -- so why are we seeing such a fall-out this season? "When kids who have their every comfort provided for hit rock bottom, it's usually prompted by emotional pain, not necessarily obvious signs of addiction," says Baker, who has seen straight 'A' students and top athletes who dabble with the highly addictive drug. While these unlikely users can keep their weekend habit under wraps the rest of the year, many come clean around Christmas because it's typically an emotional time. While affluent families have the option to pack their seriously addicted teens off to private residential centres in the U.S. those who can ill-afford it are forced to seek services locally. Unfortunately, "there aren't enough services to meet the demand," said Michael Pesut, a counsellor with the Last Door, a government-funded residential treatment centre. He says there are only about 26 government-funded beds dedicated for youth in the entire province, and only three of those are for girls. "It's really sad," he said. "I had a mother call me the other day for her daughter and I was forced to tell her there was at least an eight-month wait." "We need to get service for these kids before they start to gravitate to Vancouver's Downtown Eastside," says Deputy Minister Mike Corbeil. While no specific statistics were available on the number of young people who died from the drug this year, more than 200 accidental heroin overdose deaths were reported in the first six months of 1998. If that trend continued, the province's chief coroner believes this year may be the worst on record since 1993 when over 300 people lost their lives. "It's not the sort of addiction you can kick on your own," said Viscount. - --- Checked-by: Rolf Ernst