GOV'T TO IMPLEMENT DRUG REPORT MEASURES

REGINA -- The government announced Thursday it will implement the
recommendations outlined in the interim report from Graham Addley,
legislative secretary on substance abuse and treatment. However, not all
parties are convinced the measures go far enough.

Though the final report won't be out until June, Health Minister John
Nilson said they would implement all recommendations already arrived at by
Addley.

Those recommendations included: a 24-hour help line, awareness information
for students, improved inpatient services for young people with addictions,
the support of MethWatch and to discuss the problem of crystal meth at the
upcoming Western Premiers' conference.

"There are no silver bullets -- there's no one thing that's going to make
the whole situation better," said Addley. "I think if we can recommend a
number of different measures, that will generally improve the health of the
public and also meet the needs of as many people as possible. We can always
point to a specific case where that won't help."

Liberal Leader David Karwacki said the government should have spent the $54
million dividend from Crown Investments Corporation, also announced
Thursday, on addictions issues. He added that the initiatives didn't get to
the root issues of the problem.

"They talk about superlabs and there's no question that means gangs," he
said. "Gangs are giving away crystal meth for free, gangs are lacing
marijuana cigarettes with crystal meth -- it's a huge problem for youth and
children in our province and we don't seem to be paying any attention to it."

Saskatchewan Party MLA June Draude said she was pleased with the help line
and education measures but wanted to see more done to get beds available
sooner.

Draude also expressed concern the government wouldn't support her bill that
would give parents the power to force children into treatment.

With the new measures, there comes little new spending. The 24-hour phone
line will see counselling services incorporated into the already existing
HealthLine (1-877-800-0002) at a cost of $300,000 for new staff, expanded
hours and an awareness campaign. Another $300,000 will be spent to prepare
awareness information for students.

Spending for improved patient care was announced during this year's
provincial budget in the form of 12 new beds to be added to the mental
health services building in Saskatoon specifically for youth addictions,
although those beds are not yet there.

Nilson said, however, that waiting lists flow all the time and can go from
no patients waiting to having to wait a few days at the most.

The MethWatch program, which has retailers undergo training to watch for
shoppers buying large quantities of the ingredients for crystal meth, is
industry run.

While Addley's initial findings and recommendations dealt largely with the
issue of crystal meth -- which he said may have the strongest effect on
addicts -- cocaine and alcohol are much more widespread problems in the
province. His final report will cover a wide range of addiction problems.