GETTING HELP FOR YOUNG ADDICTS

When parents can no longer deal with their drug addicted or alcoholic
teen, there is help available.

Under the Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act (PChAD)
legislation, a parent or guardian of a child who is using alcohol or
other drugs in a way that endangers themselves or others, can apply to
the provincial courts to have the child placed in a protective safe
house for up to five days.

"Usually, by the time a parent goes to court, they feel they've
exhausted all other options," said Barb Robbins, manager of the
Northern Addictions Centre in Grande Prairie.

"The alcohol or drug abuse is so bad that the parents feel they can no
longer parent and they feel they can't insure the safety of the young
person or the people around them," she added.

The PChAD legislation came into effect July 1, 2006 and Grande Prairie
has one protective house in an undisclosed location, which opened in
January.

"I'm not even sure the neighbours know," said Robbins.

Eighteen youth and their families have used the services of the PChAD
house in Grande Prairie. In order to have their children admitted,
parents must go to the court and apply for the order to have their
child admitted to the safe house. They can choose to take their child
to the house themselves, or have the police transport the child to the
house if they are unable to do so themselves.

In addition to the house in Grande Prairie, there are also PChAD safe
houses in Red Deer, Edmonton, Calgary and Picture Butte. About 395
families have made use of the program province-wide. Alberta is the
only province that has this legislation.

Provincially 60 per cent of the people served by PChAD are between the
ages of 13-15, and 40 per cent are between the ages of 16-17. Grande
Prairie's PChAD users reflect these statistics.

Once confined to the house, the youth go through detoxification and
receive counselling from AADAC support staff and counsellors.
Counsellors do assessments and meet with family members and the youth.
During their time in the safe houses, the youth participate in
discussion groups.

The youth are generally fairly co-operative when placed in protective
care, said Robbins. There have been few incidents of people trying to
leave the house. Youth generally go through a mild detoxification
procedure and, to date, medical assistance has not been needed.

The house is managed by AADAC and McMan Youth, Family and Community
Services Association, based out of Edmonton.

Alcohol and marijuana are the primary drugs abused by the youth who
receive treatment at the PChAD house. This follows patterns throughout
the province.

More than half of the clients served by the PChAD house continue with
voluntary treatment after their stay, said Robbins.

Being confined in the PChAD house helps the youth get back on a
regular sleep/wake cycle, which is one of the first things to go when
a person has a substance abuse problem, said Robbins.

"Nutrition is also a big thing," she explained. "This gives people an
opportunity to hydrate and eat on a schedule. The kids are generally
quite co-operative and are not physically opposed to going to the
house. It's not necessarily what they want, but they do engage with
the counsellors and talk with them."

Jody Walker is an AADAC counselling supervisor who works with family
members at the Northern Addictions Centre.

"There may be conflict with the family because of the substance abuse,
but generally kids want good relationships with their parents," she said.

"This may be the first time they get a chance to talk about their
substance abuse and this gives them an opportunity to see the options
that may be available to them."

The counselling strategy focuses on helping the family as well.

"It's a very difficult time for the family because they're going to
court and asking for the intervention to happen," said Walker. "We
really encourage family involvement.

"Anything that brings families together to take a look at the
challenges they're facing and that can provide opportunities for
families who are struggling is a positive thing," she added.

Robbins acknowledges PChAD is often seen as a last resort and that
there are many services families can access through AADAC if they are
concerned about their child's drug use. AADAC provides free
consultations and services for any youth or their parents who want to
discuss any issue surrounding youth's drug use.

"PChAD is definitely the most intrusive," said Walker. "There are lots
of services in between."

"People can phone and ask question and talk about the range of
services. Parents and youth need to know they're not alone."

She explained AADAC does not request names or contact information if
anyone should call asking about drug related problems, and encourages
anyone who is concerned about their youth to contact AADAC.