TOO SOON TO TELL IF THERE'LL BE NEW YOUTH DRUG FACILITY

Will P.E.I. get a long-term residential treatment facility for young
people struggling with addiction?

The Island's youth substance use and addiction project co-ordinator
says it's too soon to say.

"We are not able to answer that... because we need better programming
in the province to indicate that need," said Rod Stanley.

Government identified two main priorities for its youth addiction
strategy with input from public consultations, an advisory committee
and several working groups.

Stanley explained two main gaps were found: the need to beef up
prevention, education and early intervention in communities and a
day-treatment program.

He explained young Islanders who need extended residential care get
referred off-Island, such as to the private facility Portage in New
Brunswick. He said youth addiction counselors and others in the field
advise some clients need that service but not the majority.

"Many counsellors indicated that they're not referring youth into
long-term care but wish they could have something that was somewhere
in between," he said. "Because they might get more buy-in from some
youth to actually attend a program like a day treatment program that
isn't eight or nine months in duration."

Stanley said an average of about 11 young people a year get referred
off-Island for long-term care. He said counselors suggest that
wouldn't change with a facility here "because not every youth is
appropriate to long-term residential care."

Stanley said they'll be better able to determine need for longer-term
care after the day treatment program has been running. He added early
intervention work to find youth and families who need help should
mean more young people will get assessed.

He stressed it's important to have a range of services and ensure
young people get the right treatment, which could include day
program, group work or long-term care.

"For some it is the right route to go," he said of long-term care.
"But the numbers are not high. And that's why we need to focus on
these other areas first."