GRITS ANNOUNCE ADDICTION CASH - AGAIN

On Thursday, the province announced it would put an extra $8 million
annually into youth addictions services and crystal meth treatment
options.

Included was $1.2 million for the Interior Health Authority.

As it turns out, it was a re-announcement of what was announced last
fall, but with more details on where the money will go.

"These are the same dollars that were announced last fall," said Rae
Samson, manager of community mental health and addictions for the
Thompson-Cariboo-Shuswap Health Service Area.

She has been working on how to disperse that money
locally.

The breakdown in the local health-service area includes the addition
of a therapist to deal with both youth mental health and addictions
issues, an outreach worker, a mobile treatment and support program and
four short-term residential beds.

The residential beds would be located in homes and provide a safe
place for a youth to stay while they're involved in treatment
elsewhere, said Samson, whether that's through a government ministry
or day counselling offered by a non-profit agency.

"They might be living at home, they might be living on the street, and
for whatever reason they need a short stay in a residential program .
. . It's a drug-and alcohol-free crisis stabilization," said Samson.

The mobile treatment program is a six-week day program and will travel
from community to community.

The reason for making it mobile, said Samson, is to access rural areas
and avoid having to move youth out of their communities for treatment.

Officials at the Phoenix Centre were pleased to see more money going
towards youth addictions services.

"Obviously it's positive. More money means more resources and
hopefully we can reach more people," said executive director Jerry
Nordoft.

Bob Hughes, who co-ordinates the centre's Meth Kickers Program, is
happy to see the addition of a health-care worker who will look at
both mental health and addictions issues.

"It recognizes we have to be cross-trained and do both."

For example, with crystal meth, the chances of users suffering mental
health symptoms, whether it's anxiety or a "psychotic break," is much
higher than with any other drug, said Hughes.

While both Nordoft and Hughes are glad to see the extra money for
youth addictions and mental health issues, their response was tempered
around the residential treatment aspect.

What's lacking, they say, is a full residential treatment program that
is long enough to really make a difference in the life of an addict.
Meth Kickers is a day program, and Hughes said it's struggling to help
free youth from crystal meth.

"They're embroiled in this lifestyle, of chaos and craziness . . . You
need to a create a safe, isolated environment to clear their head, get
off the drug," before they start a treatment program.