SEEKING HELP

Editor's Note: This is the second in a series by Amber Shea dealing
with the subject of drug abuse and treatment on P.E.I. Watch the
Journal-Pioneer for more in this series.

Thomas is 14 years old, but he has seen his peers drop out of school,
go to jail and get kicked out their homes because of their addiction to drugs.

About a month ago Thomas learned his best friend, who he's known
since age six, was using drugs.

The prospect of watching his best friend ruin his life, like so many
others he has observed, terrified Thomas. So the teenager made a
beeline for the hospital in search of help, but he said he was
surprised when he found none.

Thomas is not the 14-year-old's real name. He is afraid that by
giving his own name he will identify his friend.

About three weeks ago, Thomas' father phoned the Journal-Pioneer,
after his son told him about his attempt to find help for his friend,
and asked if a story could be done on the subject.

About 10 minutes after arriving at their house, Thomas walks in and
takes a seat. He is an articulate teen and there are several points
throughout the conversation when it was easy to forget he was only 14.

Thomas said last year, a number of students at his school started using drugs.

One day he and his best friend were talking about one of the people
who Thomas said was into "hard-core" drugs, like cocaine.

"I was saying how he had no reason to be throwing his life away like
he is and how stupid drugs are. Then I told him (how angry I'd be) if
I ever found out he did drugs," he said.

"That's when he told me he did them."

Thomas' friend did not say what drugs he used, only that he used them
a couple of times.

He said he felt bad for doing the drugs, but said he wanted to do them again.

"I was quite shocked," Thomas said. "Because when we were growing up,
he always used to say how stupid it would be for someone to do that.

"He would (say) that he liked his life just how it is, and he
wouldn't want to screw it up by doing drugs, and so when he told me I
was really, really mad."

Thomas' anger quickly turned to fear at the aspect of watching his
friend possibly become an addict.

Almost immediately after his friend told him about the drugs, Thomas
went to the Prince County Hospital.

There, Thomas said a woman made a few calls and told Thomas to go to
addictions.

"I went. there and they couldn't tell me anything, so they gave me
the number to Mount Herbert," he said.

Thomas then called Mount Herbert to try to find help for his friend there.

"I told them the situation and asked them, is there anything I can do
to help this friend?" he continued to explain. "She didn't know what
to say. She was just like, well that's a weird question."

So Thomas hung up, even more discouraged than when he began his quest for help.

"Just the fact of being almost rejected. it took (a lot) to work up
enough courage to go over there, because I knew he would (be upset
with me)," he said.

"I went over (to the hospital) thinking they would be able to help me
for sure, but they could do absolutely nothing."

Thomas said after having no luck with the health system, that night
at supper he told his parents about his friend and what happened that day.

The next day, Thomas' father was on the phone with an official from
the health department.

"He went on to say how they have great programs for treating drug
addictions, but he still couldn't tell me of any specific programs to
prevent drug addiction," Thomas' father said.

Later, the father was contacted by a person from Mount Herbert who
indicated that as far as prevention, Summerside has much of the same
services to offer as they do.

"Then I thought this is an issue that has to be brought forth and
that's when I contacted the Journal-Pioneer to maybe create a bit
more momentum," said the concerned dad.

Cecil Villard, with the provincial health services authority, also
did not know why Thomas was not given any suggestions as to how to
help his friend.

He said there are addiction counsellors in Prince County to whome he
could have been referred. Darlene Oakes-Arsenault said employees at
the hospitals should know they can refer young people to the youth
and family division of the provincial addictions facility, where she works.

Oakes-Arsenault said there are numerous prevention services on
P.E.I., including some organized by the RCMP. The Province also
offers Student Assistance Programs in all schools across the Island.

Oakes-Arsenault said the program assesses the student's risk of
becoming addicted as well as offers help to others who are concerned
about friends and family abusing drugs.

She said people like Thomas would be given information on how to
encourage his friend to visit a counselor as well as be consoled on
how to deal with having a friend who is abusing drugs.

Oakes-Arsenault noted each jurisdiction has trained counsellors who
visit schools about twice a week. She hopes the future will see these
counsellors present in schools daily.

She also pointed out a long-term in-patient program for youth on the
Island would also be helpful. In-patient treatment on has been a
topic on P.E.I. for many years.

"Population-wise, when you look at the numbers it's easy to say no,
but I think if we had one here, it would be used," she said, noting
that residential care centres are expensive.

Most Island youth who are addicted to drugs and need long-term care
are sent to an addiction centre in Portage, N.B.

Tambrie Hicks, Portage admissions officer, said since last November,
eight youth from P.E.I. were treated at Portage.

Hicks said it costs the P.E.I. government $110 a day to care for each
young person.

She noted that number of Islanders admitted into the program is
increasing each year. This is also the case for Newfoundland which
sent 20 youth to Portage in the past year.

Oakes-Arsenault said the number of students attending the Student
Assistant Program is also increasing. Within the last fiscal year,
278 students participated in the program in central P.E.I. and
another 175 were seen at the Provincial Addictions Facility.

Oakes-Arsenault said the increase might be due to increased
accessibility and awareness of the program.

But on Friday when Thomas was contacted again, he said he had no idea
there were counselors within his school who might be able to help him
and his friend.

He expressed thanks for the information.

Thomas then explained that he no longer hangs out with his friend as
much, adding that he still believes he is doing drugs.

"I talked to him a couple of times in the hallway in between
classes," he said, as his voice drops off.