Pubdate: Wed, 08 Apr 2009
Source: Journal-Pioneer, The (CN PI)
Copyright: 2009 Journal-Pioneer
Contact: http://www.journalpioneer.com/index.cfm?pid=4444
Website: http://www.journalpioneer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2789
Author: Lori A. Mayne
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

TOO SOON TO TELL IF THERE'LL BE NEW YOUTH DRUG FACILITY

Will P.E.I. get a long-term residential treatment facility for young 
people struggling with addiction?

The Island's youth substance use and addiction project co-ordinator 
says it's too soon to say.

"We are not able to answer that... because we need better programming 
in the province to indicate that need," said Rod Stanley.

Government identified two main priorities for its youth addiction 
strategy with input from public consultations, an advisory committee 
and several working groups.

Stanley explained two main gaps were found: the need to beef up 
prevention, education and early intervention in communities and a 
day-treatment program.

He explained young Islanders who need extended residential care get 
referred off-Island, such as to the private facility Portage in New 
Brunswick. He said youth addiction counselors and others in the field 
advise some clients need that service but not the majority.

"Many counsellors indicated that they're not referring youth into 
long-term care but wish they could have something that was somewhere 
in between," he said. "Because they might get more buy-in from some 
youth to actually attend a program like a day treatment program that 
isn't eight or nine months in duration."

Stanley said an average of about 11 young people a year get referred 
off-Island for long-term care. He said counselors suggest that 
wouldn't change with a facility here "because not every youth is 
appropriate to long-term residential care."

Stanley said they'll be better able to determine need for longer-term 
care after the day treatment program has been running. He added early 
intervention work to find youth and families who need help should 
mean more young people will get assessed.

He stressed it's important to have a range of services and ensure 
young people get the right treatment, which could include day 
program, group work or long-term care.

"For some it is the right route to go," he said of long-term care. 
"But the numbers are not high. And that's why we need to focus on 
these other areas first."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom