VICTORIA FUNDS ADDICTION SERVICES

Young people struggling with alcohol and drug addictions will benefit
from increased resources and an integrated regional network of youth
addictions services across Vancouver Island, as a result of new
provincial funding.

"We have increased the Vancouver Island Health Authority's (VIHA)
annual budget for youth addictions by $1.176 million annually and
earmarked an additional $363,000 specifically for crystal meth
treatment," said George Abbott, Minister of Health.

To help young people break the cycle of substance abuse and addiction
so that they can lead healthy, productive lives, VIHA plans to
establish 16 new withdrawal management and stabilization beds for
substance dependent youth on the Island, said Wendy Amos, Director of
VIHA's Child, Youth and Family Services.

VIHA is also enhancing education and prevention programs, intensive
day treatment programs and counselling services for drug and alcohol
involved youth and their families. To address the growing problem of
crystal methamphetamine addiction, VIHA is matching the ministry's
funding on a one-time basis - devoting an extra $363,000 for crystal
meth initiatives in fiscal 2005/06.

Located in Victoria, Nanaimo/Parksville and Courtenay/Campbell River,
VIHA's new, integrated network of youth addiction service centres will
offer:

Community-based counselling for youth and families;

Prevention, education and development consultation with a focus on
issues and concerns associated with crystal methamphetamine use;
Community-based withdrawal management;

Residential withdrawal management beds (one-third of the beds will
have priority for crystal meth);

Supported residential stabilization beds (one-third of beds will have
priority for crystal meth);

Intensive day treatment programs which will contain dedicated
treatment components regarding crystal methamphetamine involvement;
Education and training for communities and primary and secondary
service providers.

In addition, VIHA is establishing on the North Island two to four new
withdrawal management/ residential stabilization beds in
Courtenay/Campbell River. Youth with crystal meth addictions will have
priority access to half of the new beds.