YOUTH TARGET OF ADDICTION SERVICE

A new addiction treatment service focusing on therapeutic counselling
and catering to the individual needs of youth clients up to 25 years
of age will be in Kamloops from Monday until Dec. 21.

Axis Family Resources Ltd. of Kamloops was recently awarded a
contract with the Interior Health Authority to provide the mobile
youth-addictions treatment and housing service to the communities of
Chase, Clearwater, Barriere, Merritt, 100 Mile House, Williams Lake,
Lillooet and Kamloops.

"People have told me that youth drug and alcohol addiction is a major
concern for families in the region, and programs such as the mobile
addictions service can cater to the needs of each community," says
Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger.

"The mobile addictions service has already visited Merritt and
Lillooet, and is showing commendable results."

The new program, announced in August, involves two contracts
totalling $420,000, one for the housing component and one for the
therapeutic services.

The housing component will provide short-term housing to youth
clients while they are receiving counselling services. Totalling six
beds, two are located in Kamloops, two in Williams Lake and two in
the Thompson Cariboo region as needed.

"These beds will be located in private 'safe houses' in communities,
will serve clients under the age of 25 and will entail residential
support while they receive alcohol and drug treatment services and
withdrawal management," says Jim Campbell, program director of mental
health and addictions services for Interior Health.

"These six beds allow youth to stay closer to home while receiving
the care they need."