ADDICTS NEED CARE: REPORT

Alberta's crystal meth task force says the emphasis should be on
treating young addicts rather than sending them to jail.

The group, led by Premier Ralph Klein's wife Colleen, recommended on
Tuesday that users go before special courts in the community.

"I don't think we accomplish very much when we send young addicts to
jail, unless we have a full treatment program in place," said Red
Deer North MLA Mary Anne Jablonski, who sat on the task force.

"They could learn things in jail that you and I never dreamed of."

At a news conference in Edmonton, a former young addict suggested
stiffer sentences should be given to anyone who produces or deals crystal meth.

The task force is urging Prime Minister Stephen Harper to follow
through on campaign promises to ensure that crystal meth producers
and traffickers face sentences similar to those in the heroin trade.

Jablonski said police officers supported a recommendation to
establish drug undercover street teams (DUST) in seven Alberta regions.

The task force is also calling for 300 new detox and treatment beds
across Alberta.

"If you divide 300 beds throughout Alberta, it doesn't give you that
many in different locations. By asking for more beds, it will help in
the treatment end of this problem," said Jablonski. Health Minister
Iris Evans suggested the 83 recommendations could cost "tens of
millions" of dollars. Evans said each new bed costs roughly $100,000,
which would put the price tag on the beds alone at $30 million. But
she said the beds would likely be phased in over several years.

Jablonski said the task force recommended certain government
departments pool money for implementing the recommendations.

"There has to be some public and political will there."

The mother of a Red Deer man who battled an eight-year addiction to
crystal meth said she's glad to see that awareness has greatly
increased since her son's death.

Jesse Catellier was fatally shot during a confrontation with a former
friend in February 2005. Both men were high on drugs.

"Somebody was shot and killed in the midst of that crystal meth
mess," said his mother Ingrid Braak, adding that many people had
their "heads in the sand" before then.

"A lot of people have told me that they had discussions over the
dinner table. They say, 'It happened to Ingrid, it could happen to us.' "

Kath Hoffman, residential director with Safe Harbour Society, which
operates Red Deer's detox centre, said she's always pleased when more
funding and attention are placed on substance abuse.

But Hoffman wishes the efforts were focused on all types of addiction.

Alcohol is "an insidious monster" that can be blamed for about 80 per
cent of addictions, she said, adding that the problem is growing.

"We have detoxed over 200 people since February at our little
temporary spot. Probably half a dozen had been using crystal meth."

Community agencies should be empowered and granted funding to help
anyone who comes through their doors with addictions, she said.

The detox centre only serves adults.

At present, there are 48 beds for young people in Alberta, said
Jablonski. Three beds, provided through AADAC, are located in a Red
Deer home for minors who are confined under Alberta's new Protection
of Children Abusing Drugs Act.

"The beds have been very steadily used. There have been times we have
been full," said Tom Mountain, AADAC manager for the protection of
children abusing drugs.

The beds have been empty on rare occasions, he said. No youths have
been turned away and there are no waiting lists.

Jablonski said it may take two years to implement all of the
recommendations. Some need approval from municipal and federal levels
of government.

"It will take an effort from all three levels of government."

A number of recommendations, including programs to prevent crystal
meth use, could be implemented immediately, she said.

"We asked people in the community, industry and education and health
what we needed to do to combat the scourge of crystal meth.

"You will find a lot of their answers in those 83 recommendations."