AADAC OFFERS MORE FOR YOUTH

The Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC) will offer more
addictions services for youth and their families as part of the
Alberta Drug Strategy with a recently announced budget increase.

A total of $14 million will be invested across the province to
enhance addiction services for youth and families ensuring the
appropriate level of treatment is available to youth who are
experiencing problems associated with alcohol and other drugs,
including crystal methamphetamine.

An additional $5 million will sustain AADAC's ability to meet demands
by strengthening AADAC's network of services throughout the province.

This increase brings AADAC's annual operating budget to $95 million -
allowing for the enhancement of services and continuing the operation
of 25 area offices, three urban clinics, three adult residential
treatment centres, two adult detoxification facilities, two youth
services centres, two youth residential and detoxification
facilities, and funding support to 37 different nonprofit
organizations across the province offering addictions services and/or programs.

"In terms of our budget, we're responding to the community by
enhancing our delivery of information, prevention, and treatment
programs and services," says AADAC Chair, Dave Rodney.

Key actions for the upcoming year include:

- - Continuing to provide leadership for the Alberta Drug Strategy to
sustain an effective response to alcohol and other drug issues by:

- - Opening additional youth detoxification and residential treatment
beds in southern and northern Alberta; and

- - Expanding AADAC's continuum of youth services, by leading program
development, supporting regulation development, and implementing
detoxification and assessment services in support of the Protection
of Children Abusing Drugs Act (PChAD) that comes into force on July 1, 2006.

- - Establishing Health Partnerships. AADAC will continue to build
relationships with the health sector and other provincial partners to
deliver addictions services in innovative ways.

AADAC is an agency of the Government of Alberta reporting to the
Minister of Health and Wellness.

The Commission's role is to positively contribute to the health of
Albertans through the provision of a province-wide system of
addictions treatment, prevention and information services.