HELP COMING IN DRUG BATTLE

What he has learned about addiction problems in just a few months sounded
alarm bells for the man charged with looking at substance abuse in the
province.

Graham Addley, the MLA for Saskatoon Sutherland, was appointed legislative
secretary to the premier last year, charged with reviewing substance abuse
prevention and treatment. Originally, Addley had intended to present a
report by the end of this year. But on Thursday, in releasing his initial
findings, Addley said he has decided not to wait and has moved up the date
for his report to June to "encourage the government to better equip
addictions professionals, law enforcement agencies, individuals and
families to fight substance abuse."

Addley said while the province has an effective network of addictions
services, there are some gaps. They include the need for better 24-hour
crisis services for those with addiction problems and services to meet the
needs of young people and the special challenges posed by crystal meth. As
a result, he presented some recommendations for the short term.

To its credit, the government immediately announced that all of the
recommendations were being implemented. Although it isn't new spending, the
province will use $1.75 million of the money set aside in the budget to
respond to Addley's findings to improve existing in-patient services
available for young drug addicts. Other initiatives include: enhancement of
the existing HealthLine to offer 24-hour specialized addictions counselling
and the distribution through the school system of an addiction information
package.

The final report will deal with all addiction problems -- Addley said
cocaine and alcohol are much more widespread -- with special emphasis on
crystal meth. What makes crystal meth so dangerous is the ease with which
people become addicted and the symptoms and ferocity of the addiction.

Addley's report and the government's response are a good start in improving
the province's addictions services. We look forward to his final report in
June and will hold the government to its commitment to provide the money if
more treatment time and space are required. The fight is far from over.