FORCING TEENS TO GET HELP

The Saskatchewan government introduced legislation Tuesday that will
give parents and guardians a means to force drug-addicted youth into
treatment.

The Youth Drug Detoxification and Stabilization Act was given first
reading in the legislative assembly by Graham Addley, minister of
healthy living services. Under the legislation, parents and guardians
of youth aged 12 to 17, would ask a judge to have the youth assessed
to determine if they need involuntary detoxification for a severe drug
addiction.

"We want to make sure the rights of young people are protected.
However, we want to honour the very real desire of parents to protect
their children," said Addley.

If the judge deems the youth needs assessment, a warrant is issued for
the youth to be apprehended within seven days. The youth will be
assessed by a physician within 24 hours of apprehension.

Following assessment, a youth can agree to voluntary detoxification.
If they do not, a teenager can be placed involuntarily into detox
following assessment by a second physician.

"Once ordered, youth would be required to undergo involuntary
detoxification and stabilization within a facility that offers a safe
and protective environment for a period of up to five days. There is a
possibility of an extension, determined by physicians, to a maximum of
15 days," said Addley.

Any treatment following detox is voluntary. Addley explained there is
also an option for a community order where there are measures
available to allow the youth to undergo detox and stabilization within
30 days in the community.

"The individual is not actually in a locked facility. They are
actually getting the treatment involuntarily under the parent's
order," he said.

Police may also apprehend a youth under the act without a warrant if
the youth is believed to be suffering from a severe drug addiction. In
this case, the youth would be assessed by a physician within 12 hours.

Some details of the legislation are still being worked out, including
where beds for the involuntary detox will be located. Addley said the
beds are expected to be in a secure Saskatoon facility, but many
options are being explored.

He said he hopes the bill will be passed this fall and beds will be
ready when it comes into force.

Opposition MLA June Draude introduced a private member's bill with the
same intent in April but it died on the order paper. She said Tuesday
that she is pleased to see the government introducing the legislation
but would have liked to see it sooner.

"Every day that we wait is another day when we have families that are
upset and frustrated and kids that are hurt," said Draude.

One parent said the legislation would have been helpful with her own
drug-addicted child.

Deanna, who asked that her last name be withheld, said her now
20-year-old daughter started using drugs when she was 16. Her daughter
has been into detox three times but continues to use drugs.

"We tried to get help everywhere but we couldn't get any help ... I
would have loved to have something (like this)," Deanna said.

She explained that it is hard to help her daughter when the family has
been disappointed so many times by her continuing to use drugs. She
believes there isn't adequate long-term treatment available for her
daughter but first, Deanna would like to have a way to force her
daughter into detox.

Addley said including people over 18 in the legislation would be
difficult.

"We wanted to craft (legislation) that is constitutional and can stand
up to Charter challenges. I think as soon as we start to go to adults,
at what point do you cut off that line?" he said.

Addley explained using this legislation would be a last resort only to
be exercised if the youth is believed to be unable to make decisions
on their own and are a risk to themselves or others. The legislation
also includes a process for the youth to appeal the detox order, which
must be heard by a review panel and decided upon within 48 hours.