YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T CHOOSE TO BECOME ADDICTS

Re: New treatment centre to offer help for teen drug addicts,
Westcoast News, Sept. 7

While we were pleased to share the news about the youth treatment
centre, we must point out that the report confused the two community
organizations behind this project. Central City Foundation, which is
providing the spectacularly beautiful site near Keremeos, is one of
Vancouver's oldest charitable organizations. From Grief To Action is
the parent support and advocacy society which has been speaking out
for eight years about the critical need in B.C. for long-term
residential treatment for addicted youth. Short-term stints in detox
are ineffective. As one father noted, the addict just emerges with a
fiercer craving than ever.

There is something else that we cannot ignore. Keremeos Mayor Walter
Despot is quoted saying there will be some public opposition to the
treatment centre: "It's kind of like sending [Vancouver's] garbage to
Ashcroft."

These young people are not garbage; they are our sons and daughters.
They did not choose to become addicts. Many young people experiment
with alcohol and other drugs. Some lose control and the drugs start
controlling them.

These young people need our help.

In fairness to the mayor, he was not expressing his personal view.
Nevertheless, the parents of From Grief to Action couldn't just let
those words stand.

This centre will help young people from across B.C. It may even save
the life of a young person from Keremeos.

Rob and Susie Ruttan

From Grief to Action: Families and Friends of Drug Users