TACKLING TEEN ADDICTION

Early this summer, a handful of anxious parents will head to court in
a desperate attempt to help a son or daughter escape the terrible
grip of drug addiction.

If they can convince a judge their child has a serious drug problem,
the court will order the teenager into a five-day treatment program
- -- and to be picked up by police if necessary.

Alberta's experiment with these mandatory treatment orders is bold
and risky, but worth a try.

For good reason, society is loath to use the law to force minors into
treatment. Such coercive measures -- when no crime is involved --
offend the basic principles of individual autonomy in our society.
And on a practical level, addiction counsellors also know well that
treatment works better if troubled teenagers seek help voluntarily.

But there are cases, mostly involving the terrible scourge of
"crystal meth," where a drug-addicted child may be in no condition to
make a rational decision on whether to seek counselling.

Mandatory treatment may be the only course available.

The Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission is clear that the
courts should be a last resort. AADAC wants parents to come to their
counsellors first if they perceive a problem with their children,
says Sylvia Vajushi, executive director of AADAC's youth services.

That's a sound precaution against misuse.

Mandatory orders must be used sparingly. The courts are not the venue
to compensate for poor parenting, nor the quick fix at the first
signs of trouble.

During the five days of mandatory treatment, counsellors will try and
convince the teen to sign on for the much longer treatment needed to
break an addiction.

AADAC's job in the next year is to monitor closely the results of
mandatory treatment orders.

If the new coercive measures manage to bring some teenagers back from
the brink, it will be a worthwhile effort, a justifiable infringement
of individual autonomy.

If not, the mandatory measures will need to be re-evaluated. This
kind of coercive step should not be continued without compelling
evidence of positive results.

Murray Finnerty, AADAC's chief executive officer, also reminds that
crystal meth is still confined to a small group of teenagers. Other
addiction problems, including smoking, gambling and alcohol, are far
more widespread.

Society must also keep those problems front and centre.

For that reason, AADAC should also continue pushing aspects of its
anti-smoking strategy so far ignored by the provincial government.
It's time, for instance, for another increase in tobacco taxes.

A few years ago, Alberta had the highest tobacco taxes; now the
province has dropped to eighth place, says Finnerty. Yet the high
cost of cigarettes is the number one deterrent to teen smoking.

AADAC also, rightly, wants an end to power walls, the stacking of
cigarettes near the cash registers in every convenience store --
basically another form of advertising.

The province should move forward on these measures as well.