NEW WEAPON IN DRUG FIGHT

In Brief: The province has introduced legislation that will let
parents force minors to submit to involuntarily detoxification.

Parents who are at their wit's end in trying to deal with a
drug-addicted child have been given a new weapon.

On Tuesday, the Youth Drug Detoxification and Stabilization Act was
given first reading in the legislature. Under the act, parents or
guardians of young people between the ages of 12 and 17 can ask a
judge to have the young person assessed to determine if there is a
need for involuntary detoxification for severe addiction. A police
officer can also trigger the process. An officer who finds an
addicted youth can make an apprehension and have the youth assessed
by a physician.

In either case, if the physician finds the youth is addicted, the
youth can voluntarily agree to detox. If it is not a voluntary
decision, the youth can be involuntarily placed into detox following
an assessment by a second physician, or a community order can be
issued that allows the young person to undergo treatment in his or
her home community subject to certain restrictions.

The legislation does stray onto dangerous ground in regards to the
personal rights of young people. The government recognized this and
has created a process whereby a youth can appeal a detox order. And
it should be noted that our legal system already imposes some
restrictions on young people's rights. For instance, a person aged 16
or 17 must obtain parental consent before he or she can get married.

Graham Addley, the minister of healthy living, who earlier this year
conducted an examination of substance abuse prevention and treatment
in the province, said the legislation is intended to deal with cases
where a young person's substance abuse presents a risk to their own
safety or the safety of others. It is predicated on the fact that
addictions can affect decision-making abilities. While there is no
requirement for treatment following detox, it is hoped that when the
young person has "cleaned up", he or she will see the need for
further treatment.

Saskatchewan Party MLA June Draude deserves some credit for this
legislation. She introduced a private member's bill earlier this year
on the topic. The government voted it down, saying it wanted to
consider the legal ramifications of the legislation and whether it
was necessary.

Despairing parents will welcome their decision.