CENTRE ASSISTS DRUG ABUSERS

Say You're The Parent Of A 16-Year-Old.

He's been moody for the last couple of years, has withdrawn from the family
and has lost interest in school.

He spends a lot of time sleeping in his room and seems to be marking time
doing nothing.

You could chalk some of that up to normal teenage growing pains, but the
bag of pot and flap of cocaine that fell out of his jacket the other day
tells another story.

Obviously concerned, you turn for help only to find most government
addiction and youth counselling programs are full with a waiting list.

But you want something done now-that's where a new service in Kelowna hopes
to step in.

Venture Academy Youth Counselling and Treatment Programs is the brainchild
of Gordon Hay, a long-time local youth counsellor.

Hay has taken his experience with government-funded youth and addictions
programs and translated it into a private, for-profit company, avoiding
waiting lists and line ups.

"We can have a youth counsellor to someone's home within 24 hours," says
Hay, who has worked in adolescent residential care and youth probation in
Kelowna for the last eight years.

While he hestitates to criticize the government and non-profit approach to
youth, Hay maintains the flexibility a private company offers can make a
big difference in the outcome of treatment.

"We don't have to be involved in the politics of service delivery," says Hays.

"It's service directed. We give our clients what they're looking for
without them having to jump through all the hoops. You don't have to meet
preordained criteria to be eligible for services."

Hay says existing counselling and addictions programs too often do not
address specific client needs.

"We're more flexible in what we can offer. We can develop programs to fit
the person as opposed to saying 'here's the program-take it or leave it.'"

Besides outreach counselling, Venture Academy also offers residential
programs where youth are placed with adult parent counsellors for short
periods.

Hay says community based treatment is important for success. "There is no
transition from an artificial environment like a wilderness camp or group
home. They're learning the skills where they need to be learned, not
shipping them off to Vancouver or Cranbrook for treatment."

Hays clinical team includes a local psychologist, a physcian and a
substance abuse coordinator which collaborate to develop individual programs.

To contact the Venture Academy call 712-0409.