Pubdate: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN) Copyright: 2005 The StarPhoenix Contact: http://www.canada.com/saskatoon/starphoenix/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400 Author: Tim Switzer, Saskatchewan News Network Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) SASK. PARTY BILL TARGETS DRUG-ADDICTED CHILDREN REGINA -- Saskatchewan Party MLA June Draude introduced a private members' bill in the legislature Wednesday that could give families the power to put drug-addicted children into mandatory rehabilitation. The Protection and Assessment of Children who are Abusing Drugs Act is based on a bill recently passed in Alberta. "A child that's on drugs right now can't really make up their mind and doesn't really have control over all their faculties and we just believe it gives them a chance to make some changes in their life," said Draude. Under the act, legal guardians would make an application to a court to have the child -- in this case defined as under the age of 18 -- apprehended and confined to a safe house for no more than 30 days. If the court grants the application and the child is admitted to the safe house, he or she would undergo an assessment by the director of the facility and then begin detoxification and treatment. While the act was spurred on by the high-profile use of crystal meth in the last year, it would include users of all drugs and alcohol. Community Resources and Employment Minister Joanne Crofford said there are still several factors that need to be considered before enacting legislation, including civil liberties issues as well as whether or not the same result could be achieved through changes to current legislation. The Child and Family Services Act currently allows for children under the age of 16 to be apprehended and returned to their family's care. "There certainly are people looking at both the amended Alberta bill . . . and as well looking at what the best practices are that are considered by people who work in the field and also doing a bit of a balancing act with looking at how the rights of the young person are protected," she said. "I think what we have to determine here is whether there are circumstances in which a person should be judged to be not competent to make their own decisions." A spokesperson from the Children's Advocate office said any strategy must include the recommendations of young people and must balance a child's right to protection from harm with a child's right to fair treatment, as well as asserting a child's right to physical and personal integrity. Rod Rossmo, a registered psychologist and professor in health education at the University of Regina, said the effectiveness of treatment under duress is debatable but can lead some addicts down the road to recovery. But even though mandatory treatment won't work for everyone, he said the government still needs to put some sort of law in place. The bill could be debated further today after Graham Addley, legislative secretary on substance abuse prevention and treatment, reveals his findings and recommendations on the province's addictions policies and programs. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin