MORE YOUTH DRUG TREATMENT NEEDED

To the editor:

As mothers ourselves, and founding members of the group From Grief to
Action: Families and Friends of Drug Users, we found Kerry Jackson's tragic
story chillingly familiar ("A mother's message," July 19).

Her story is just the tip of the iceberg of this stigma-laced disease
that is attacking our youth. We commend Ms. Jackson for her
emotionally draining hard work in educating parents to detect early
warning signs. We too believe that parent education is crucial, and to
this end have published a Coping Kit, which is available for order
from our website, www.fromgrieftoaction.org.

However, many of us feel that even with 20/20 hindsight, we may not
have been able to stop our children's downward spiral of addiction. It
is usually too much for any family to cope with, and there is a
drastic need for long term residential treatment for youth, followed
by rehabilitation and supported housing, to help them get their
ravaged lives back together.

If Ms. Jackson's son had been able to access resources such as the
supported housing which is proposed for 16th and Dunbar, he might
still be alive today. Let's do everything we can as a society to help
prevent any more tragedies like that of Ryan Jackson.

Nichola Hall and Susie Ruttan,

Vancouver