Pubdate: Sat, 05 Nov 2005 Source: Journal-Pioneer, The (CN PI) Copyright: 2005 Journal-Pioneer Contact: http://www.journalpioneer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2789 Author: Amber Shea SEEKING HELP Editor's Note: This is the second in a series by Amber Shea dealing with the subject of drug abuse and treatment on P.E.I. Watch the Journal-Pioneer for more in this series. Thomas is 14 years old, but he has seen his peers drop out of school, go to jail and get kicked out their homes because of their addiction to drugs. About a month ago Thomas learned his best friend, who he's known since age six, was using drugs. The prospect of watching his best friend ruin his life, like so many others he has observed, terrified Thomas. So the teenager made a beeline for the hospital in search of help, but he said he was surprised when he found none. Thomas is not the 14-year-old's real name. He is afraid that by giving his own name he will identify his friend. About three weeks ago, Thomas' father phoned the Journal-Pioneer, after his son told him about his attempt to find help for his friend, and asked if a story could be done on the subject. About 10 minutes after arriving at their house, Thomas walks in and takes a seat. He is an articulate teen and there are several points throughout the conversation when it was easy to forget he was only 14. Thomas said last year, a number of students at his school started using drugs. One day he and his best friend were talking about one of the people who Thomas said was into "hard-core" drugs, like cocaine. "I was saying how he had no reason to be throwing his life away like he is and how stupid drugs are. Then I told him (how angry I'd be) if I ever found out he did drugs," he said. "That's when he told me he did them." Thomas' friend did not say what drugs he used, only that he used them a couple of times. He said he felt bad for doing the drugs, but said he wanted to do them again. "I was quite shocked," Thomas said. "Because when we were growing up, he always used to say how stupid it would be for someone to do that. "He would (say) that he liked his life just how it is, and he wouldn't want to screw it up by doing drugs, and so when he told me I was really, really mad." Thomas' anger quickly turned to fear at the aspect of watching his friend possibly become an addict. Almost immediately after his friend told him about the drugs, Thomas went to the Prince County Hospital. There, Thomas said a woman made a few calls and told Thomas to go to addictions. "I went. there and they couldn't tell me anything, so they gave me the number to Mount Herbert," he said. Thomas then called Mount Herbert to try to find help for his friend there. "I told them the situation and asked them, is there anything I can do to help this friend?" he continued to explain. "She didn't know what to say. She was just like, well that's a weird question." So Thomas hung up, even more discouraged than when he began his quest for help. "Just the fact of being almost rejected. it took (a lot) to work up enough courage to go over there, because I knew he would (be upset with me)," he said. "I went over (to the hospital) thinking they would be able to help me for sure, but they could do absolutely nothing." Thomas said after having no luck with the health system, that night at supper he told his parents about his friend and what happened that day. The next day, Thomas' father was on the phone with an official from the health department. "He went on to say how they have great programs for treating drug addictions, but he still couldn't tell me of any specific programs to prevent drug addiction," Thomas' father said. Later, the father was contacted by a person from Mount Herbert who indicated that as far as prevention, Summerside has much of the same services to offer as they do. "Then I thought this is an issue that has to be brought forth and that's when I contacted the Journal-Pioneer to maybe create a bit more momentum," said the concerned dad. Cecil Villard, with the provincial health services authority, also did not know why Thomas was not given any suggestions as to how to help his friend. He said there are addiction counsellors in Prince County to whome he could have been referred. Darlene Oakes-Arsenault said employees at the hospitals should know they can refer young people to the youth and family division of the provincial addictions facility, where she works. Oakes-Arsenault said there are numerous prevention services on P.E.I., including some organized by the RCMP. The Province also offers Student Assistance Programs in all schools across the Island. Oakes-Arsenault said the program assesses the student's risk of becoming addicted as well as offers help to others who are concerned about friends and family abusing drugs. She said people like Thomas would be given information on how to encourage his friend to visit a counselor as well as be consoled on how to deal with having a friend who is abusing drugs. Oakes-Arsenault noted each jurisdiction has trained counsellors who visit schools about twice a week. She hopes the future will see these counsellors present in schools daily. She also pointed out a long-term in-patient program for youth on the Island would also be helpful. In-patient treatment on has been a topic on P.E.I. for many years. "Population-wise, when you look at the numbers it's easy to say no, but I think if we had one here, it would be used," she said, noting that residential care centres are expensive. Most Island youth who are addicted to drugs and need long-term care are sent to an addiction centre in Portage, N.B. Tambrie Hicks, Portage admissions officer, said since last November, eight youth from P.E.I. were treated at Portage. Hicks said it costs the P.E.I. government $110 a day to care for each young person. She noted that number of Islanders admitted into the program is increasing each year. This is also the case for Newfoundland which sent 20 youth to Portage in the past year. Oakes-Arsenault said the number of students attending the Student Assistant Program is also increasing. Within the last fiscal year, 278 students participated in the program in central P.E.I. and another 175 were seen at the Provincial Addictions Facility. Oakes-Arsenault said the increase might be due to increased accessibility and awareness of the program. But on Friday when Thomas was contacted again, he said he had no idea there were counselors within his school who might be able to help him and his friend. He expressed thanks for the information. Thomas then explained that he no longer hangs out with his friend as much, adding that he still believes he is doing drugs. "I talked to him a couple of times in the hallway in between classes," he said, as his voice drops off. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth