HTTP/1.0 200 OK Content-Type: text/html Teens Choosing Rehab Over Suspension 
Pubdate: Tue, 13 Mar 2007
Source: Maple Ridge Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc
Contact:  http://www.mrtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1372
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

TEENS CHOOSING REHAB OVER SUSPENSION

A Program Aimed At Providing Day Treatment For School Aged Youth 
Faced With Drug Related Suspensions Is Doing Better Than Anticipated.

Ron Lawrance, executive director of Alouette Addictions, says the 
program has drawn in 88 youth in its first three months.

The program, called T2 which stands for Think Together, is free to 
participants and requires youths to participate in day treatment for 
the entire three days of their suspension from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

This program combined with other recently instituted programs offered 
by Alouette Addictions including the first response group, the trauma 
group and the spirituality, grief and loss groups are putting Maple 
Ridge in the best place its ever been for treating additions issues.

"We're meeting the needs of the community better than we have 
before," Lawrance said. The first response group alone is seeing 
upwards of 25 people each day, he added.

But the youth treatment group has been an incredible success, he 
said, as it provides young people with an option that was not 
available. Previously, those suspended from school for drug use had 
few resources. With this group, Lawrance said, those students who 
choose to participate can reduce their overall suspension time.

And, he said, most don't make the same mistakes again. Of the 88 
youth who have gone through the program only four have come back.

Another offshoot of the T2 program, said Lawrance, is a writing 
project conceived of by the youth involved. The young people have 
formed a writing club, he said, and plan to write their own book 
about the struggles they face and the truth about youth drug use.

"The kids are going to help us now figure out what the problem is," he said.

The writing project is titled 4:21, The Truth About Youth, and will 
focus on "what happens after you start doing dope."

There were 116 drug and alcohol related suspensions through the 
2005-2006 school year. The drug and alcohol treatment program is 
voluntary and parental consent must be given.
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