PROGRAM HAS HELPED TROUBLED YOUTH, SAYS MLA

After one year in operation, a provincial program that sees youths
with drug and alcohol addictions placed in protective custody for
treatment has proven to be a useful tool, says Olds-Didsbury-Three
Hill MLA Richard Marz.

And with the increasing appearance of hard drugs such as
methamphetamine and cocaine in rural communities, anything that helps
confront youth addictions early on is worthwhile, he said.

"After a year there's been some really good data collected," said
Marz. "I think we have some data that we can evaluate to improve this
thing even more.

"Things like crystal meth can ruin a person's life after just one use,
so you have to get it through to the young people how dangerous this
thing can be."

Under the Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act, a parent or
guardian of a youth who is using alcohol and/or other drugs in a way
that severely endangers themselves or others can apply to the courts
to have the child placed in a protective house for up to five days.

One of the protective houses is located in Red Deer.

During the confinement, the youth is provided with detoxification
services by AADAC addiction counsellors, assessed for the abuse of
drugs and alcohol, and provided with a follow-up volunteer treatment
plan.

AADAC released a report on the program last week, saying more than 600
families have made use of it over the past year.

The assessment found that of the youths entering the program, 98 per
cent reported they drank alcohol in the past year, 96 per cent smoked
marijuana, 57 per cent used cocaine, 73 per cent use psychedelics, 18
per cent used crystal methamphetamine, and 91 per cent smoke cigarettes.

More than 80 per cent of parents with children in the program reported
that they believed the five-day time limit was too short; eighty-six
per cent of participating youths said five days was too much.

"Depending on the level of drug use or addiction that a person has,
and the type of drug you are addicted to, it could probably make a
difference on whether five days would indeed be enough. Five days is a
long time in the life of a young person, and when you get older it
goes by in a flash," said MLA Marz.

"My concerns is with things like crystal methamphetamine and cocaine
it is pretty tough to claim victory after five days."

Fifty eight per cent of youths in the program reported an improvement
in their quality of life a month after discharge.

"The results of the evaluation confirm the importance of government,
community and families working together for Alberta's youth," said
AADAC chairman Harvey Cenaiko. "It is encouraging to see that this
program has been successful in connecting youth and families to the
treatment they need to better their lives."