Pubdate: Fri, 05 Aug 2005
Source: Hanover Post, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005, Osprey Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.thepost.on.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2612
Author: Lori Gillespie
Series: Part 10
Note: More on Series http://www.mapinc.org/source/hanover+post
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

FINDING HELP FOR ADDICTION CAN BE A CHALLENGE

OWEN SOUND -- If you are hooked on crystal meth (or another substance)
and wish to get help, your work has only just begun. Not only is it
difficult to ask for help, it can be a challenge to get help, too,
depending on whether you require counselling or more rigorous
detoxification in a residential setting.

Some of the most shocking news during the methamphetamine information
meeting, held in Hanover in June, came from Dave Roy of Choices in
Owen Sound. He told the crowd of about 400 people sitting in the Civic
Theatre that the only drug counselling service available in Grey and
Bruce counties was significantly understaffed.

Choices is a teen counselling service for alcohol and drug addictions
for those ages 14 to 20. New Directions is its adult counterpart,
offering services in alcohol, drug and gambling addictions. Both
services operate in Owen Sound and serve all of Grey and Bruce counties.

Both services offer assessment and referral, with outpatient
counselling.

Despite Roy's comments at the June information meeting that the
service was understaffed, he says Choices will be back to full
complement with two full-time youth counsellors and one part-time
counsellor, in addition to Roy, who is the supervisor.

For serving all of Grey and Bruce counties, that doesn't seem like a
lot, and Roy agrees that the resources are under-serviced.

"Addiction services have been underfunded for a long time," he
says.

Choices falls under the umbrella of Grey Bruce Community Health
Corporation, specializing in mental health and addiction services. The
corporation is funded by the Ministry of Health.

There is no waiting list for Choices, and no charge, and Roy says the
service values being able to get back to inquiries quickly. There may
be a one or two week wait for the first interview, but Roy says they
try to prioritize calls for urgent cases.

While waiting for a residential spot to come open, Choices can provide
valuable counselling in the meantime.

"At the very least," Roy says, "have a phone consultation to figure
out where to go."

Once a youth has been assessed by the counsellor, counselling or
residential services may be prescribed.

Roy says a Choices counsellor will do an assessment of a youth's
problems, and make recommendations about counselling.

"We're very client-focussed," Roy says. "We support the client, but we
involve the parents as much as possible. We will talk to the parents,
even if the youth won't come."

However, a youth over 14 can tell a counsellor who the counsellor can
or cannot speak to. Roy explains, while the counsellor may not be able
to speak to the parents about what occurred in the session, he/she can
still give the parents advice on how to deal with the youth's
addiction and behaviour.

"A lot of kids are good about having their parents involved," Roy
says.

"Sometimes they'll say we can talk (to the parents) about anything
except certain details. And we have to respect that."

Roy says a lot of sessions are held with the teen and parents both
present, especially when developing a contract between the two
parties; for example, agreeing on parameters for the teen to live at
home.

"We will evaluate their drug or alcohol use and hope that we can get
them to a place where they're willing to make changes," Roy says. "We
don't demand abstinence, although we recommend it. But if they choose
to keep using (drugs or alcohol) we take a `harm reduction' approach."

That might mean, for example, encouraging a binge drinker to drink
less at one time, so that it is less harmful to them.

"We help them choose the less risky use," Roy says. "If they're
willing to reduce some, that's good, in our view."

Methamphetamine addiction has been increasing, Roy says, with Choices
seeing an increase over the past six months. "It wouldn't surprise me
to see more and more cases," he adds. "But we take it case by case."

Roy says he's hearing more about methamphetamine use from clients. "It
causes a lot of anxiety within families, as well as conflict, and its
aftereffects are extreme, with depression and despair in the come
down," he says.

What parents can do

Roy says parents of youths who are using methamphetamine can call
Choices to talk about it with a counsellor, even if the youth refuses
to see a counsellor. There is also a variety of literature, tapes and
books available as resources in this situation.

"Parents need to look at what's in their control, and what is not,"
Roy says, "what they can do about a problem and what they can let go
of. For example, if their older kid is living outside of the home, the
control

the parents have over his life is limited."

He adds that when the child is in your home, there is a higher level
of control. "But as they become teenagers, consequences are less
effective," he says. "When you are in a situation, it is hard to see
and get perspective." That's where a counsellor can be useful for
parents, to talk about the problem and discuss the best solutions.

When it comes to withdrawal management, Roy says, there are resources
for parents. "If a kid comes home and is intoxicated or is out of it
on drugs, we advise parents to take them to the hospital and have them
assessed. It's a good message to send to the kid -- they get a talk
from the doctor, some cautioning. A lot of kids, especially around
alcohol, have a lot of ignorance about what they can handle. This is a
chance to give more information and insight."

Sometimes, he adds, such an incident can be a stepping stone to open
up dialogue about the issue.

"We want parents to be able to talk about the problems with their
kids," he says. "They need to be calm, give the teen a chance to talk
about their feelings and talk about why they're abusing." There is
literature available for tips on how to talk to your kids, he points
out.

"We talk in frank ways (here) and we do our best to support parents,"
Roy says, "but we advocate for the kids. We will negotiate between the
parents and the kid, and we will tell parents if we think they're
going too far."

Roy says the counsellors try to stretch an assessment over three or
four appointments, in order to get information about family, school,
jobs, leisure time, etc, as well as look at their drug or alcohol use
history.

"Then we give our feedback to the kid . . . list their strengths and
talk about their substance use," Roy says. "We make suggestions about
where they should go. Quite often we offer outpatient counselling and
help them develop a plan. And if the parents are involved, we try to
give them feedback too."

At Choices, counsellors use a four-point scale to demonstrate the
level of dependency on substances. Level one is experimentation; level
two is regular occasional user; level three is harmful use; and level
four is core dependency.

"It's a way to get a kid to see the progression, and it seems to work
well," Roy says. "It's better than black and white `addicted or not
addicted.'"

He adds, "We try to avoid labelling, but we look at their substance
use and how it is affecting their life. If the bad outweighs the good,
then maybe it's time to make a change.

"You can turn many off with the word addiction. With Choices, the name
fits because it's all about making choices."

Choices

For teens addicted to drugs, including methamphetamine, there are few
choices in Ontario when it comes to residential rehabilitation. Roy
recommends contacting DART -- Drug and Alcohol Registry Treatment.
DART can be reached by phone at 1-800-565-8603 or check it online at
http://www.dart.on.ca.

When you contact DART, give the operator information about the problem
and the age of the individual. The person will then try to find places
that match the criteria and will find the facility with a spot
available soonest.

"For youths in inpatient services, there's not much across the
province," Roy says. "For those under 16, there's one in Thunder Bay."

He adds that there are no inpatient programs in Grey and Bruce, with
the closest being a 28-day addiction program through Withdrawal
Management Services at the Grey Bruce Health Centre in Owen Sound. The
program "provides a supportive environment for men and women to
withdraw from alcohol or other drugs," according to the web site
(http://www.gbhs.on.ca).

In Ontario, the Alwood Treatment Centre near Ottawa offers substance
abuse treatment for youth (male and female) ages 16-22, through an
intensive four-month residential program, according to a pamphlet. The
14-bed treatment centre is located about 30 minutes west of Ottawa, in
Carleton Place. The phone number is 613-257-2813.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin