Pubdate: Wed, 10 Aug 2005
Source: Meridian Booster (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005, The Lloydminster Meridian Booster
Contact:  http://www.meridianbooster.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1590
Author: Erin Pritchard
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)

BRINGING HOPE TO TACKLE METH

A $10 million boost to the Saskatchewan health care budget is aimed at
drug addiction and substance abuse problems.

The budget passed this year saw a $4.7 million increase to the health
care tab, and with the additional $10 million committed for each of
the coming three years, the province has upped the total by roughly 60
per cent.

"Without doubt we are enjoying some some new revenues from our
resource revenues and we believe that this is one of the places that
those kind of revenues should find a home," Premier Lorne Calvert
said. "These dollars we count as a real investment in lifestyle and
quality health care for the future."

Calvert announced this past Thursday the implementation of Project
Hope, including higher capacity at treatment facilities, additional
drug enforcement officers and prevention education.

"The recommendations that Graham (Addley) has brought forward in
majority have formed our Project Hope," Calvert said. "They together
will provide for significantly enhanced treatment opportunities,
particularly for youth."

Earlier this spring, Addley was appointed to research the growing
problems associated with drug and alcohol abuse in the province, with
special attention to crystal meth and those that produce and
distribute the drug.

"The services go beyond treatment to outreach into communities,
expansion of outreach services. We are also doubling our efforts in
terms of prevention and education," Calvert said.

The province plans to lobby the federal government to impose stricter
sentences on crystal meth producers and traffickers, similar to those
for heroin. As it stands, trafficking meth can land a maximum sentence
of 10 years while heroin, cocaine and even marijuana trafficking can
result in a life sentence.

The government will also be looking at increasing the penalties for
those who supply or bootleg alcohol for underage teens.

The recently suggested implementation of a program that would force
difficult-to-engage youth into addictions treatment has raised some
questions around human rights violations. Addley's report outlined
voluntary and court-mandated addiction treatment as most effective,
and Calvert said a balance will have to be found so human rights are
not violated, but treatment is provided where and when needed.

A new Alcohol and Drug Prevention and Education Directorate will also
be established to expand awareness throughout the province.

While the Saskatchewan Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission had the
ability to centralize programming, it didn't have the capacity to
integrate services with other aspects of treatment. The directorate
will work with province-wide coordination, but the real services for
patients will be at the community level.

"This was an attempt to put some of that functionality back without
destroying some of the autonomy individuals have in their own
community," Addley said.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin