MANDATORY TREATMENT LAUDED

For Some Drug-Addicted Teens It Can Help, Police Chief Tells Parents Group

EDMONTON - Edmonton Police Chief Mike Boyd pledged his support
Thursday for further study into compulsory treatment for drug-addicted teens.

"It is time we had a look at mandatory treatment options," Boyd said
at a meeting of parents of children struggling with addictions.

"We know that there are a lot of people who have not reached a point
where they are prepared to deal with their drug abuse problems," he
said. "Mandatory treatment might be the only way for them. The
research is promising."

Most drug treatment programs in Alberta are voluntary, meaning the
addict must choose to enter the program.

Since July 2006 parents of addicted minors have been able to apply to
have their children placed in secure treatment for five days under
the controversial Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act.

But many parents say five days isn't nearly long enough to break the
cycle of drug abuse, and parents of addicts over 18 say the act came
too late for their children and they have nowhere to turn.

"The justice system needs more options," Boyd told the parents.
"Maybe it's time for the province ... to build (mandatory treatment)
into the system."

Boyd made the comments at a meeting of the Parents Empowering Parents
Society, a support group established in 2004 to help families
struggling to cope with their childrens' drug and alcohol addictions.
The group now has four chapters across the province, the most recent
one started in Edmonton with the help of the Edmonton Police Service.

"Mandatory treatment is as successful as voluntary treatment,"
society co-founder Audrey Holliday said.

"I don't know why you wouldn't use time in jail as a perfect
opportunity to treat addicts," she said. "There is no system to deal
with the primary issue, which is the addiction.

"The crime is just a symptom."