Pubdate: Thu, 09 Sep 2004
Source: Hope Standard (CN BC)
Copyright: 2004 Hope Standard
Contact:  http://www.hopestandard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1397
Author: Julia Caranci
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DELVING INTO THE SHADOWY WORLD OF DRUG ADDICTED YOUTH

What kinds of drugs are teen addicts using? Are they on the street or 
living at home? When did they first try their drug of choice?

These and other secrets of drug and alcohol addiction in youth ages 12 to 
18 will be explored in a new Fraser Health Authority (FHA) study launched 
this week.

Alcohol and drug abuse among youth is a growing concern in the Lower 
Mainland - particularly crystal meth, a toxic drug popular with street 
youth, young women and frequenters of clubs and raves.

The first of its kind in the FHA, the study will follow the treatment of up 
to 300 addicted youth from the time they first see an intake worker, 
through their treatment either at home or in a residential program.

The study will continue until March 31, 2005, with the goal of following as 
many youth as are willing to participate in the voluntary study, said FHA 
addictions expert Sherry Mumford.

Participants will be asked where they live and how long they've lived 
there, what level of support and involvement they receive from parents, 
what types of drugs they use, when they started using, how often they use 
and how they feel about their drug of choice.

While Mumford hopes much will be learned from the study, the goal is to 
find out how successful specific treatments are.

Generally, addicted youth are funnelled into one of three types of 
treatment programs: an outpatient, outreach clinic where clients remain at 
home but meet regularly with a counselor; an intensive day treatment 
program where clients live at home but attend a rigorous 35-hour per week 
day treatment program; or residential care, where youth undergo treatment 
while residing full-time at a facility.

Currently, clients are referred to treatment programs without knowing what 
works best for a given addiction/personality/home situation, Mumford said.

"We've never done a study.... to find out what types of treatments are the 
most helpful - what works best for what kid," she said. "Take a youth who's 
an alcoholic and uses cocaine - he isn't living at home, he's 17, and he 
hasn't been at school. The study will tell us "XYZ" is probably where we 
should send that youth, based on the profile we know has the best chance to 
succeed."

The information gleaned from the study will be invaluable in developing 
youth addictions programs, Mumford said.

"We always throw money in to try to build it (the program) up but we've 
never done it on a real solid and evidence-based foundation. You throw more 
money in and you put more beds in - but is that what you really need?"

For example, there is an intensive day treatment program in New Westminster 
but none in either the Fraser South or Fraser East areas. These are less 
costly programs that don't require beds or 24-hour care. But officials 
don't know if that model would work in other areas because it hasn't been 
done, Mumford said.

An outside evaluator will put a report together following the study, and 
Mumford hopes to publish its findings.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager