NEW TREATMENT CENTRE TO OFFER HELP FOR TEEN DRUG ADDICTS

Residential Facility in Keremeos Will Draw From Youths in Lower
Mainland

Drug-addicted teens from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and other areas
of the Lower Mainland will soon be able to seek long-term treatment in
a new facility in Keremeos.

Health officials on Thursday unveiled B.C.'s first residential
treatment centre for 42 people, aged 14-24, which is set to open next
fall. Other facilities are already operating in Ontario, Quebec and
the Atlantic provinces.

Laurie Dawkins, spokeswoman for Vancouver Coastal Health, said the
program will target chronic substance abuse users.

The youth would enter the program after withdrawing from drugs or
alcohol and spend six months to a year in the facility.

"We know there are a lot of youth from the Downtown Eastside who fit
that description," she said, "but there are also kids with problems on
the west side and in Kits. They will come from all over."

The Central City Foundation, a parent support and advocacy group, will
contribute The Crossing, a 23-hectare property near Keremeos to use
for the treatment facility and lead a $6-million capital fundraising
campaign to renovate the property.

The facility had previously been used for Outward Bound programs and
has cabins and a main lodge on site.

The health ministry, through Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser
Health, will contribute $2.4 million annually to cover operating costs
and costs of reintegrating young people back into the community.

Dawkins said most treatment programs only run for six to eight weeks
and this program will allow youth to finish their schooling, gain
self-confidence and get jobs.

"Part of this program is not just learning about your addiction or
getting off drugs," Dawkins said. "It's teaching them life skills. . .
you're not throwing them back into the community without any resources."

Former addict Lauren Gill, 18, said she's excited B.C. is opening a
facility.

She just returned home after a year in Quebec's program, where she
underwent intensive therapy to kick her habit, which included pot,
meth and heroin.

She is now living back at home with her family, working for Vancouver
Coastal and part time at the John Howard Society, plays in a band and
has friends.

"It was just amazing; it was the best thing I've ever been to and it
saved my life," Gill said. "I still have friends out there with active
addictions. I bus by them on Hastings and they're out there dying.
There's nothing out there for them."

Keremeos Mayor Walter Despot said he supports the idea of a treatment
centre in his city after speaking with mayors in Ontario, New
Brunswick and Quebec.

He said the program operator, Portage Program for Drug Dependencies,
will visit Keremeos later this month to outline the plans to the public.

He concedes there will likely be some opposition as the public was not
forewarned of the plans because he was asked to keep them
confidential.

"It's kind of like sending [Vancouver's] garbage to Ashcroft," he
said. "This is human nature. I'm pleased Portage is coming to speak to
the community.

"I'm quite sure there will be a couple of hardliners coming
in."

Despot said he had been concerned about the potential impact on
Keremeos's health and policing services but isn't worried about those
being factors.

Instead, he said, the treatment centre will be an asset, and could
even bring jobs to the community.

"Substance abuse is a mega problem and we have to find better ways to
treat it," he said.

"If we're going to start it in Keremeos, I'm comfortable with that."