COUNSELLORS GO TO FRONT LINES IN WAR AGAINST TEEN ADDICTION

$1.4M Pilot Project Sends Counsellors Into Schools, Centres

Mobile response teams of addiction counsellors are being dispatched to
local schools and youth centres to help teens at risk of developing
alcohol, drug or gambling problems.

It's part of a $1.4-million pilot project by the Alberta Alcohol and Drug
Abuse Commission (AADAC) that will provide outreach services to youth in
Edmonton and five other communities across Alberta.

Project co-ordinator Darlene Gartner said the teams, which have been
operating in the city since November, include both treatment and prevention
services.

If a youth indicates he or she needs help, outreach workers will provide
information, assessments and on-the-spot counselling, she said. "But if the
youth required more intensive treatment, they'd refer that youth to our
already existing services."

Gartner couldn't say how many schools, community centres or young offender
centres have been visited to date. "I can tell you that it's been a really
targeted approach to youth at risk."

A 1996 AADAC study of adolescent gambling in Alberta showed eight per cent
of adolescents are considered problem gamblers.

Another survey found that 55 per cent of adolescents are current drinkers
and seven per cent are frequent drinkers. "Frequent" means a person used
alcohol one or more times a week.

Sixteen per cent of youths aged 12 to 17 were users of marijuana or hashish
and four per cent were frequent users.

The AADAC pilot project is part of a $48-million cross-government
initiative announced last week by Children's Services Minister Iris Evans.

Another part of the initiative is a new Web site -- www.aadac4kids.com --
for youth aged nine to 13 that provides information on drugs, alcohol and
gambling to youth, families and teachers "in a fun way."

A future phase of the project, targeting teens aged 14 to 17, is also planned.

Other components of the initiative to be implemented in early 2001 include
a public-awareness campaign for youth and their families and new alcohol
and drug educational material for parents and schools.

"Providing counselling, information and support to these young people and
their families at the earliest possible stage is our priority," said AADAC
chairperson LeRoy Johnson.