A lot of public support for district youth addiction services

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Parents Against Illicit Narcotics (PAIN) have received overwhelming support from the district to approach the Ontario government in search of youth addiction services in the Rainy River District.
In July PAIN circulated petitions across the region and last week collected and sent the 1,632 signatures to government representatives.
Services PAIN is hoping to get here would include: an intervention team, education, qualified youth addiction counselors, local psychiatric support, medical withdrawal management, a treatment center, parent and family support and aftercare services.
The petition also calls for increase drug enforcement at the street level and acting on child endangerment laws such as adults selling or giving children/youth drugs.
Substance Abuse Prevention Team Coordinator Hugh Dennis said that PAIN is very pleased with the strong showing by the public on this issue. The signatures along with a letter detailing the lack of and need for the services here were sent, along with two letters of support from the Fort Frances Chiefs Secretariat and Town of Atikokan, to Minister of Health George Smitherman, Minister of Health Promotion Jim Watson, Min. of Children and Youth Services Mary Anne Chambers, Min. of Community Safety and Corrections Monte Kwinter and Attorney General Michael Bryant.
Dennis said that they only circulated the petition a short while so that they could put the information together and give each of the candidates running in the provincial election for the riding an opportunity to respond to the issue.
All of them have received copies and now PAIN plans to await the election outcome and work with whichever candidate wins to press the issue urgently.
According the letter PAIN sent to all the parties listed above 65% of the youth in the Rainy River District have tried illicit drugs. With no support agencies here to deal with youth addictions, many are having to travel outside the area to get treatment, often having to wait 3-4 months to get it.