Pubdate: Wed, 20 Sep 2006
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2006 Calgary Herald
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Jason van Rassel
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

CITY FACILITY SEEKS ROLE FIGHTING CRYSTAL METH

Fighting the spread of crystal meth in Alberta will be expensive, but 
the head of a Calgary treatment centre argues making more use of 
private facilities can cut the cost.

The Premier's Task Force on Crystal Meth made 83 recommendations in a 
report released Tuesday, and Health Minister Iris Evans said it would 
cost approximately $30 million to add 300 new detoxification and 
treatment beds called for in the document.

It needn't cost that much if the province is willing to provide more 
funding for places like the Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre in 
Calgary, the facility's executive director said.

"They don't have to reinvent the wheel," said Dr. Dean Vause.

"The intent of the task force is good, the direction they're going is 
good -- but will it translate into specific dollars for facilities 
like ours to treat crystal meth addicts successfully, which we're 
already doing?"

The centre keeps clients in treatment for an average of a year, often 
followed by six months of aftercare. The program has resulted in more 
than 300 sober "graduates" since the centre opened in 1992, but it is 
costly to deliver.

The 30-bed centre's annual budget is currently $2 million, but that's 
expected to swell to $3.8 million when its capacity doubles to 60 
beds next year.

The centre receives approximately $300,000 a year from the Alberta 
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission.

The centre paid for its expansion entirely through fundraising and 
relies on donations and patient fees to cover the remainder of its 
operating costs.

It can cost up to $50,000 for a year of treatment at the centre, but 
the non-profit facility only charges families what they're able to 
pay -- and 80 per cent of clients are subsidized.

Although it's common for addicts to abuse a variety of drugs, about 
25 per cent of the centre's clients list crystal meth as their drug of choice.

The task force recommended provincial guidelines governing meth lab 
cleanups and called on the federal government to toughen penalties 
for criminals trafficking the drug.

For drug users who commit crimes to feed their addictions, however, 
the task force recommends a measure of leniency. It supports 
specialized courts that would refer eligible offenders to supervised 
treatment rather than jail.

A committee made up of civic politicians and justice officials was 
already working to establish a drug court in Calgary, likely paid for 
with seed money from the municipal budget.

The possibility the venture could one day benefit from provincial 
funding pleased Ald. Druh Farrell, an ardent supporter of drug courts.

"Wouldn't that be wonderful," said Farrell.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom