SENDING THE WRONG MESSAGE

We don't understand why caring parents should have to leave Halton to get
help for their drug-addicted children.

The lack of treatment programs and facilities in this region was made loud
and clear at a recent meeting of Parent Watch, a not-for-profit
organization that aims to help parents of troubled children.

Dozens of parents gathered to speak about their feelings of helplessness
and despair where their child's welfare is concerned.

The cumulative effect of watching their sons and daughters get deeper and
deeper into trouble with drugs made these parents do what some apparently
won't -- talk about the growing problem in public.

According to Jim Harkins, founder and president of Oakville-based Family
Adolescent Straight Talk Inc. -- a non-profit organization that predicts it
will help the families of 300 young drug-users this year -- the lack of
services stems from society's refusal to admit Halton has a youth drug
problem that can start before children have reached high school.

And yet Harkins says a 1999 Halton survey revealed drug use among Grade
7-OAC students mirrored that of communities across the province.

Many parents who have gone public with their concerns say they have taken
time off work as a temporary measure to help keep their children clean. One
mother admitted to not having a clue her daughter had started using drugs
in Grade 8. Another revealed that both her teenage sons are drug users.

For their willingness to speak publicly about the problem, these parents
deserve to be heard and applauded. What's more, they have earned the right
to see an effort made to establish a detoxification centre to serve the
needs of young Halton residents.

It's hard enough for individuals and their families to admit there's a
problem. By not making treatment more readily available, our society sends
the wrong message about where its priorities lie.

Attacking the supply of drugs by raiding grow houses and arresting dealers
is only half the battle.

We must also reduce the demand by helping break the addiction of those who
use and by preventing our children from getting hooked.