PROVEN PROGRAMS FOR TROUBLED YOUTH ARE DESPERATE FOR FUNDS 3

I work for a group of people who've come together to raise funds and
make real the Vancouver Adolescent Recovery Centre. This treatment
will mirror the highly successful Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre
in Calgary. (For more on AARC, please go to www.aarc.ab.ca)

Like the parents featured in your stories, we have been communicating
with the ministry of children and families, the health ministry and
the ministry of state for mental health to no avail. "This area is not
part of my ministry's portfolio" is a regular refrain.

Recently, we held a black-tie gala fund-raiser and auction. One
cabinet minister had an assistant call to accept our invitation and
ask if he could speak at the gala. The board's consensus was yes.
However, I told the minister's office our program was abstinence-based
and we would not want him to speak about harm reduction programs. He
pulled back from even attending.

That is a clear message to parents of severely addicted youth: To
receive any care in your own province, you'll have to put your child
on methadone. This is an insane solution to an infinitely treatable
disease.

If Johanna Carter had received effective treatment, which includes
life skills to live with her disease without medicating it, she'd be a
healthier, 100-per-cent clean and sober person today. Instead, she's
still "chipping" and on methadone. Poor soul. We've all failed her.

Hedy Davidson

Vancouver Adolescent Recovery Centre

New Westminster