METH KICKERS SHOWING SUCCESS

How do you treat a young person addicted to a drug making them paranoid,
psychotic and violent?

Bob Hughes and his team of drug and alcohol counsellors at The Raven Centre
have been given this monumental task - and they're finding success.

Hughes started Meth Kickers, a program aimed to get youth - aged 12 to 25 -
off using crystal methamphetamines, or crystal meth, in November.

Seven young men joined the program. Six weeks later, five have completed the
project, one left the country, and one fell through. Five out of seven isn't
bad, Hughes said, especially for a treatment program that's never been tried
before.

"One client in particular, it's remarkable he's alive . . . he's really
engaging in recovery."

While the psychological recovery takes longer, Hughes said physical recovery
is shocking and sudden.

"He's gone from having sores on his mouth and significant skin blemishes to
clear skin.

"He's gained some weight, probably more than he'd like, and he's got a
balanced energy."

The program finds success by allowing methamphetamine addicts room to slip
and to get back up again.

"Historically all treatment programs have involved abstinence of all
substances."

To enter a program to get off crack cocaine, for instance, participants
would be expected to give up smoking marijuana and ditching alcohol.

"They're not wanting to drop everything, and realistically we're not seeing
commitment or success doing that," he said.

If a client can't feel some sort of confidence and accomplishment, they'll
never stick with the program, he added.

"Even if you slip on the drug it doesn't mean it's a failure. So long as
[the clients] don't return to the problematic use where they're doing it
every day, then they'll be OK."

Hughes and the other Raven counsellors will present their research and
results at Lets Talk About Addictions, a conference beginning today at the
University College of the Cariboo and drawing addictions counsellors from
across the province.

While the results are encouraging, Hughes said, the damaging effects of the
drug make it one of the most difficult addictions to treat.

"We're dealing with such a challenging drug in such a challenging
population. I got really grounded when a couple of clients had their first
slips."

Methamphetamines are unlike any other drug out there, he added.

"Clients firmly believe they're done with it, they'll tell you everything
you hoped they'd learn. But if they are in any way in the face of it, all
their intentions just melt like butter and the pipe goes to their face."

The next six-week session of Meth Kickers begins Feb. 15.

The public is invited to attend a free community forum entitled The
Four-Pillars Approach at UCC in the Campus Activity Centre tonight from 7
p.m. to 9 p.m., which includes a presentation by former Vancouver mayor
Phillip Owen.