NEW STAFF AND BEDS FOR AADAC WILL HELP YOUTH

With the addition of new beds, staff and a program designed to help
drug- and alcohol-addicted youth, the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Commission hopes to offer addicted youths another resource for recovery.

The 2006 provincial budget provided AADAC with $14 million to put
towards 20 new beds for Grande Prairie, Red Deer, Picture Butte,
Edmonton and Calgary.

Grande Prairie-area AADAC supervisor Barb Robbins said of the 20 new
beds, Grande Prairie will be receiving four along with financial help
to help hire more staff.

Currently, Robbins said the Grande Prairie AADAC organization has 10
staff members - most with degrees in the social sciences,
specializing in programs such as nursing and psychology.

She said the budget additions will help enhance AADAC's already
strong emphasis on training.

Robbins is encouraged by the budget and legislative help.

"The resources we are going to be given to support the mandate are
very important."

The "mandate" Robbins said will benefit from the $14 million is the
Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act.

The legislation allows for the confinement of drug and alcohol
addicted youth as ordered by the provincial court.

If guardians believe their child may harm themselves or others, they
can apply to the court to have the youth placed in a protective safe
house for up to five days.

The act, which was passed on May 5, 2005, will take effect on July 1, 2006.

Robbins said the success of the program hinges on the co-operation
between AADAC, the RCMP and court officials which she said has been
cohesive so far.

AADAC will help the youth with various drug treatment services during
their time in the safe house.

Robbins said while the contracts for the act are still being firmed
up, she sees the court-ordered confinement as a much-needed last
resource for parents of drug addicted youth.

"When all other resources have been exhausted and parents feel like
they don't have any other recourse, it gives people another option," she said.

OPTIONS

Debbie Bidwell, mother of a former drug user, has had experience with
AADAC and said even though her daughter was of age while she was
using, if below the legal age, the court ordered confinement would
definitely be a option she would have considered.

Bidwell also said the money being provided to AADAC will be of great help.

"They can't house every addict in the city...I'm sure they have to
turn away people now, so the money will be a great help," Bidwell said.

The physical space and measures that might be required to keep the
youth in the safe house will be provided by a contractor while the
treatment and counselling services will be handled by AADAC.

While AADAC is a provincial group, Robbins insists each area tries to
adapt its program to the needs of the community it is in.

Robbins has been with AADAC for 15 years and said the number of
people who use its services in Grande Prairie has increased, but she
is unsure whether this is due to population increase or more people
becoming aware of the services.

Robbins said AADAC is represented in 28 communities throughout
Alberta, some with offices and resource centres, and other smaller
communities with personnel that can help with treatment.

For information about AADAC call their office at 538-6330