YOUTH ADDICTS NEED RECOURSE

The Province has announced plans in its recent capital budget to
invest $2.5 million in a facility for youth at risk, earmarking
$500,000 in 2009-2010 and $2 million in 2010-2011 for such a facility.

One official says the money be used to establish a 30-bed facility to
provide a host of services for youth. Services could include
psychology, psychiatry, mental-health services, addictions and education.

But just what exactly the project will include has yet to be
determined. Planning is said to be in the initial stages and decisions
yet to be made.

One thing that should be included in the project is long-term help for
youths battling addictions.

There is no doubt that the problem of youth addiction, whether to
drugs or alcohol, is growing. Parents' groups, those who work in the
field and communities on P.E.I. have repeatedly said one thing is
needed - a long-term care facility in this province dedicated to
helping addicted youth.

The previous provincial Tory government indicated it planned to
establish a youth addictions facility. And when the current
administration took power, it, too, said a youth addictions facility
was on its radar.

But, almost two years into its mandate, there's been no work to date
by the Liberals to even plan for, let alone establish, such a facility.

Proponents in the western part of the province say Summerside is an
ideal location for such a facility. With the youth corrections
facility nowhere near capacity, that building is said to be the
perfect place for a long-term care youth addictions facility and is
almost move-in ready.

Although addiction services could be part of this new youth-at-risk
facility, no one has come out and said so. The Province is working on
a specific youth addictions strategy and has pledged to expand
services. So far, no details have been announced.

While there are long-term care beds at the addictions facility in
Mount Herbert, many say that's not enough. Many addicted youth in need
of long-term care, feeling services here are inadequate, are left to
travel off Island for treatment, away from the support of family and
friends.

In planning this new centre, government could finally fulfill a
promise it and legislators before them made to Islanders.

While there are other youth in need of specific services, young
Islanders battling addiction are truly 'at risk.'