ADDICTED YOUTHS WILL SOON CALL KEREMEOS AREA HOME

Cradled by spectacular mountain scenery, B.C.'s first long-term
residential treatment centre for addicted youth is on the verge of
welcoming its initial group of clients.

The Crossing at Keremeos is situated on a 23-hectare site 10
kilometres west of Keremeos. Its 42 beds are expected to be filled by
May and will provide respite for teens aged 14 to 18 who need help to
overcome a drug or alcohol addiction.

While in the program, the kids, whose stays will last six to 12
months, will receive both individual and group therapy, a chance to
complete their high school education if needed, and vocational
counselling. At present, addicted B.C. teens are flown to facilities
in Quebec or New Brunswick.

"No longer will they have to travel to other provinces to get the
time, space and treatment they need to rebuild their lives and
reconnect with their families," Health Minister George Abbott said at
a ribbon-cutting Thursday to mark a construction milestone.

The first group of 20 females is expected to arrive "early in
2009."

Putting the clients in a rural setting far from home is seen as an
effective way to remove them from temptation and allow them to focus
on their recovery.

The Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health Authorities will pick up the
annual $2.4 million operating cost, and the bulk of the clients will
come from the Lower Mainland.

Interior Health will provide urgent care as needed and is in
negotiation with the other health authorities to gain access to some
of the beds.

The health minister said he only learned of plans for The Crossing in
2005 and could not say why it took so long for B.C. to build such a
facility, which took a decade to get off the ground.

Abbott also said The Crossing will be evaluated for a few years to
determine if, and when, additional capacity is required.

"They're going to fill this in a flash," said Susie Ruttan, co-founder
of From Grief to Action, a Vancouver non-profit that got its start as
a support group for parents of drug-addicted kids.

Ten years ago, Ruttan put her 16-year-old son on a plane to Toronto
where he would enter a long-term treatment facility for help with a
drug problem. At the time, she thought the notion of sending kids out
of province was "shameful."

She said the need for drug treatment facilities has become greater as
the age average age at which kids first experiment with drugs is now
11.

The Crossing will also allow B.C. families to participate in their
kids' recovery process, Ruttan added, and "having that proximity is
going to be key."

The centre will be operated by the Montreal-based Portage Program for
Drug Dependencies, which runs 10 similar facilities in Eastern Canada.

Peter Howlett, president of the non-profit, said about 85 per cent of
young clients are able to break their addictions for good.

"It doesn't mean they don't have an occasional relapse, but we get
them almost completely on their feet," Howlett said.

Each teen at The Crossing will need a doctor's referral, and although
there are already more potential clients than beds, access to the
program will be granted on a triage basis to those most medically in
need of help.

In past incarnations, the site hosted outdoor adventure activities for
a variety of youths. While those endeavours weren't always
problem-free for area residents, the health minister assured this one
would be.

"People will be here by their own choice," Abbott said, "so I think
the whole dynamic here is quite different than some of the programs
that have been here in the past."

Keremeos village councillor Charlene Cowling allowed that after some
initial hesitation, the community has rallied to the cause.

"I think all those fears have been alleviated," she said, and people
"have realized that this is a well-run organization and I think
everybody's on board."

The Central City Foundation bought the former Outward Bound property
eight years ago providing it at no charge. The Vancouver charity also
provided $1 million towards the project's total $6.5 million capital
cost. The province chipped in $2 million while corporate and
individual donors provided the rest.

The money was needed for equipment and supplies, and to build or
renovate the various buildings on site, which include a lodge,
classroom spaces, a workshop, and offices.

Upwards of 50 people will be employed at The Crossing, many of whom
are expected to live in the Keremeos area.