SERVICES, SUPPORT AVAILABLE FOR ADDICTS, THEIR FAMILIES

There has been a great deal of media coverage in recent months about
drug-addicted youth in our city and province. Much of the focus is on
the particularly dangerous methamphetamine known as "crystal meth."

Compared to alcohol, marijuana and cocaine, the incidence of crystal
meth use is low. But the impact on the individual user is high because
it is easy to make, cheap, long acting, and can cause lasting damage
fairly quickly.

In the Regina area, 22 partners representing all levels of government,
service providers, First Nations and Metis organizations and three
school boards have been working together to respond to the causes and
negative impact that addiction has on our citizens. Good progress is
being made, but we recognize that the task is large and much more
needs to be done.

This partnership, known as the Regina and Area Drug Strategy, has
assisted the provincial government in its decision-making by
articulating clearly the needs of this community in the linked areas
of prevention, harm reduction, healing interventions and community
justice.

The major projects of the strategy partnership include a drug
treatment court, a homelessness and brief detoxification shelter, and
youth stabilization and detox services, along with expanded youth
interventions. This last initiative is most needed in the context of
the crystal meth problem we are seeing in our community.

Members of the Regina and Area Drug Strategy committee were pleased
with the premier's appointment of MLA Graham Addley, to conduct a
review of addictions issues in Saskatchewan. Addley's appointment has
brought focus to the serious drug abuse problem our province faces.

The 2005-2006 provincial budget announcement of additional funding for
addictions services was also very good news for our province. We look
forward to working with the provincial government and our local
partners in allocating available funds to priority services.

Our research shows that individual addiction services are not always
understood, or seen to be accessible by those that need them most.
This is unfortunate because, in Regina and throughout the Regina
Qu'Appelle Health Region, we have been providing a range of addiction
services to youth and adults for many years, including working
directly with schools and parents in support of young people who are
addicted. Other addiction services funded by the health region, the
province and the federal government are also in place.

Particularly important, we think, is helping caregivers cope with the
chaos experienced when young people are using crystal meth or other
drugs. It's very clear that families and young people are experiencing
crisis and great pain because of addictions. We acknowledge the need
to increase and expand services to meet needs as they arise.

Clearly, in light of the current concern in the community over crystal
meth abuse, one of those needs is support to parents and other
caregivers on an ongoing basis. For those who have family members
using drugs, including crystal meth, one option for help and support
is the regular group we run for parents. We invite your readers to
call 766-7910 for more information, and to register to attend these
group sessions.