TEENS CHOOSING REHAB OVER SUSPENSION

A Program Aimed At Providing Day Treatment For School Aged Youth
Faced With Drug Related Suspensions Is Doing Better Than Anticipated.

Ron Lawrance, executive director of Alouette Addictions, says the
program has drawn in 88 youth in its first three months.

The program, called T2 which stands for Think Together, is free to
participants and requires youths to participate in day treatment for
the entire three days of their suspension from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

This program combined with other recently instituted programs offered
by Alouette Addictions including the first response group, the trauma
group and the spirituality, grief and loss groups are putting Maple
Ridge in the best place its ever been for treating additions issues.

"We're meeting the needs of the community better than we have
before," Lawrance said. The first response group alone is seeing
upwards of 25 people each day, he added.

But the youth treatment group has been an incredible success, he
said, as it provides young people with an option that was not
available. Previously, those suspended from school for drug use had
few resources. With this group, Lawrance said, those students who
choose to participate can reduce their overall suspension time.

And, he said, most don't make the same mistakes again. Of the 88
youth who have gone through the program only four have come back.

Another offshoot of the T2 program, said Lawrance, is a writing
project conceived of by the youth involved. The young people have
formed a writing club, he said, and plan to write their own book
about the struggles they face and the truth about youth drug use.

"The kids are going to help us now figure out what the problem is," he said.

The writing project is titled 4:21, The Truth About Youth, and will
focus on "what happens after you start doing dope."

There were 116 drug and alcohol related suspensions through the
2005-2006 school year. The drug and alcohol treatment program is
voluntary and parental consent must be given.