Pubdate: Thu, 25 Jan 2007 Source: Guardian, The (CN PI) Copyright: 2007 The Guardian, Charlottetown Guardian Group Incorporated Contact: http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/174 APPROPRIATE TREATMENT FOR ADDICTED YOUTH Government may need a more persuasive case before changing its plans. The growing opposition in Summerside to the provincial government's plan for helping drug-addicted young people has some impressive clout, but it may need to work a little harder to get government on side. A group of Summerside-area parents wants government to create long-term drug care for young people with drug problems. The province is committed to a facility for drug-addicted youth, but the parents say the three-month program being proposed won't be effective. They want to follow the lead of other provinces and bring in a long-term addiction program under legislation that would force youth into treatment. The parents group itself includes not only parents of youth with drug problems, but high-profile community leaders such as Dr. Sheldon Cameron, well-known for his work in addictions, and Andy Lou Somers, executive director of the East Prince Women's Information Centre. Just last week, the City of Summerside expressed its support for the parents' call for long-term care. Clearly there's a genuine concern for what's perceived to be a serious problem in the community. That was evident from the remarks of Coun. Garth Lyle who told council recently he was raising the issue after attending a parents' meeting. In his opinion, it's "easy to say it's not a problem" if you don't have friends experiencing it, but "it's no secret we have a lot of break-ins and a lot of stealing going on and the reason is because the children are addicted to drugs." Council's expressed support does add strength to the call for action here. But the question is whether that action should come in the form of the province's current plan - a three-month program - or whether a longer-term one is required. Obviously the longer-term one would be more expensive because it would demand more resources. But there's also the controversial question of legislation that would force young people into treatment. Now that the city has agreed to support the parents group, perhaps it could do two things: explain the benefits of a longer-term drug treatment; and explore the success of any other areas that have adopted legislation forcing drug-addicted youth into such treatment. That, in addition to any other information the province may have on the subject, could be useful to government if it considers a change of plan. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine