YOUTH DETOX LEGISLATION COMES INTO EFFECT

REGINA -- Legislation that gives parents and guardians the means to
force drug-addicted youth into detoxification comes into effect this weekend.

"At midnight Friday, the Paul Dojack Centre will have the opportunity
to house children who require involuntary detoxification and
stabilization," said Graham Addley, minister of healthy living services.

"It will be fully staffed and ready to go one minute after midnight
Friday night."

Under the Youth Drug Detoxification and Stabilization Act, parents or
guardians can ask a judge to assess youths aged 12 to 17 to determine
whether they need involuntary care in a secure facility to get the
substance out of their body and stabilize their health.

"This specific piece of legislation and the program we're
implementing April 1 is to be used as a last resort and for those
that are really requiring a drastic intervention," Addley told
reporters Thursday.

Parents or guardians can first contact Healthline to speak to an
addictions worker, who will explain all of the available options,
Addley said. The parent or guardian will then take their case before
a judge and must show evidence that the child is suffering from a
severe addiction, is an immediate danger to themselves or others,
needs confinement for their own safety or to detoxify and needs to be
assessed by a doctor.

If the judge decides the youth is in need of assessment, two doctors
will evaluate the youth's condition. The youth may be released to
seek involuntary care.

If not, Addley said the youth may be given a community order to spend
30 days living at home under certain restrictions, or the youth may
be given a five-day involuntary stay in a secure facility for
detoxification, which could be renewed two times for a total stay of
15 days. The youth may also receive a community order before or after
an involuntary stay in the secure facility.

After completing the involuntary stay or community order, the youth
will be encouraged to pursue further outpatient counselling or
inpatient treatment in their health region.

The interim provincial secure youth detox centre has been set up in a
separate unit at the Dojack centre. Addley said construction on the
permanent centre will begin in Saskatoon this fall, with the 12-bed
program possibly open next year.

Saskatchewan Party MLA Ted Merriman said he would like to see more
long-term treatment in place following the involuntary term, as well
as treatment for the youth's family.