MUM DESPERATE TO FIND CARE FOR TEEN P ADDICT

Sandra Hodgson's 14-year-old daughter has absconded from three
non-secure residential units in the past few weeks while she was
suffering from methamphetamine addiction and bulimia. Now the single
Hamilton mother is uncertain where her daughter is, and what will
happen next.

Mrs Hodgson, 35, said her daughter was out of control, and she was
desperately worried. She had tried for two years to find suitable
treatment for her daughter - whose problems started with bulimia, and
a cycle of eating and vomiting, and who in recent months graduated to
drugs, moving from alcohol, cannabis and party pills to
methamphetamine. City agencies and counsellors had been involved in
her daughter's care, and the teenager was in two CYF residential units
in Hamilton recently.

At the first, she stayed for half-an-hour then got a friend to pick
her up.

At the second she lasted a little longer, then absconded.

On Monday this week, her mother and grandparents took her to
Auckland's well-regarded Odyssey House residential treatment
programme, where CYF had arranged to fund a bed.

Mrs Hodgson was impressed with Odyssey, but her daughter thought
otherwise.

She took off during admission, and an Odyssey staffer was unable to
catch her.

Police were informed, and Mrs Hodgson said she had had texts from her
since; she believed she was back in Hamilton with friends.

When she is found CYF and Mrs Hodgson plan to return her to Odyssey
House.

Mrs Hodgson said her daughter's situation highlighted the need for a
secure detox residential unit for young teenagers with addictions.

Her daughter had been given too much responsibility to make decisions
on her treatment: "She's known for such a long time that she can do
what she wants and no one can touch her. But she's not thinking
rationally, and I'm ultimately responsible for her."

CYF head Ray Smith said he believed Odyssey House was the best place
for the teenager.

He said sometimes these things didn't work the first time, but you had
to persist.