PROBING YOUTH ADDICTIONS

Study looks to unlock secrets of youth hooked on drugs, alcohol

What kinds of drugs are teen addicts using? Are they on the street or living
at home? When did they first try their drug of choice?

These and other secrets of drug and alcohol addiction in 12- to 18-year-olds
will be explored in a Fraser Health Authority study undertaken this week.

Alcohol and drug abuse among youth is a growing concern in the Lower
Mainland, particularly crystal meth, a toxic drug popular with street youth,
young women and frequenters of clubs and raves.

The study, the first of its kind in FHA, will follow treatment of 300
addicted youth from the time they see an intake worker, through their
treatment either at home or in a residential program.

The study will continue until March 31, trying to follow as many youth as
are willing to participate, FHA addictions expert Sherry Mumford said.

Participants will be asked where they live and how long they've lived there,
what level of support and involvement they receive from parents, what types
of drugs they use, when they started using, how often they use and how they
feel about their drug of choice.

While Mumford hopes much is learned from the study, the goal is to find out
how successful specific treatments are.

Generally, addicted youth are funnelled into one of three types of treatment
programs: an outpatient, outreach clinic where clients remain at home but
meet regularly with a counselor; an intensive day treatment program where
clients live at home but attend a rigorous 35-hour per week day treatment
program; or residential care, where youth undergo treatment while living
full-time at a facility.

Currently, clients are referred to treatment programs without knowing what
works best for a given addiction/personality/home situation, Mumford said.

"We've never done a study...to find out what types of treatments are most
helpful-what works best for what kid," she said.

"Take a youth who's an alcoholic and uses cocaine-he isn't living at home,
he's 17, and he hasn't been at school. The study will tell us 'XYZ' is
probably where we should send that youth, based on the profile we know has
the best chance to succeed."

Information gleaned from the study will be invaluable in developing youth
addictions programs, Mumford said.

"We always throw money in to try to build (the program) up, but we've never
done it on a real solid and evidence-based foundation. You throw more money
in and you put more beds in-but is that what you really need?"

For example, there is an intensive day treatment program in New Westminster,
but none in either Fraser South or East regions. These are less costly
programs that don't require beds or 24-hour care. But officials don't know
if that model would work in other areas because it hasn't been done, Mumford
said.

An outside evaluator will put a report together following the study, and
Mumford hopes to publish its findings.