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2 - The Oakville Beaver, F riday M a rc h 8, 2002 Few services for youth with drug problems, parents charge By Kim Amott SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Imagine your 14-year-old son landing in the hospital as a result of drug use. Imagine the shock and anger you feel discovering he's using illegal drugs. Imagine the fear you feel for his health, his safety, his future. Now, imagine the frustration you feel when you discover there are very few services in Halton to help you deal with him and his problems. The anger, the fear and the frustra tion were front and centre at a recent keep them clean, meeting of Halton Parent but most admit Watch. "It seems incredibly that's only a very About 50 parents, most naive that a community temporary solu articulate, well-dressed the size of Halton tion to a problem and seemingly affluent, that seems to be admitted they have run doesn't choose to growing. out of ways to cope with recognize its A 1999 sur their children. problem." vey of drug use Despite what parents · Concernedfather by Halton youth say is a pressing need, found that stu there is no detoxification dents are most likely to have program for young people in Halton, their first experiences with and few answers for parents who want alcohol and tobacco in Grade 8. to help their kids get off, and stay off, By Grade 10, they've moved drugs. on to experimenting with Parents spoke of taking time off cannabis, and by Grade 12 and work to monitor their children and OAC, they've tried other illicit drugs. "I didn't know my daughter started in Grade 8," admitted one woman, shrugging in dis Your N ew Body Sh ap e A w aits You Tumescent & Ultrasonic Liposuction Performed Under Local Anesthetic Weekend Recovery LPG Endermologie for Body Contouring & Cellulite Reduction Quality Bath, Bedding & Kitchen Accessories at Factory Low Prices Bathroom Kitchen Bedroom Dr. Robert Knowlton, M.D.. FRCS(C) Specialist in Cosmetic Plastic Surger) Over 30 years'experience in the cosmetic industry 435 Reynolds St., Suite 208, Oakville Free Consultation · 905-842-8346 · www.laserclinics.com ANNOUNCEMENT D r. S y lv ia G a r n i s - J o n e s FKCPC M Sc M DCM D e r m a t o lo g is t Dr. Sylvia Garnis-Jones is pleased to announce the opening of her downtown Dermatology office. O PEN HO USE Friday, March 22n dfrom noon*4 p.m. We will f e a t u r e t h e fo llo w in g d e m o n s t r a t i o n s : P E R L A N E T ISS U E AUGMENTATION fo r t h e t r e a t m e n t o f d e e p e r lin e s a t 2 p .m . H O M E M IC R O D E R M A B R A S IO N f o r t h e t r e a t m e n t o f m ild a c n e s c a r r i n g , f in e w r i n k l e s a n d s u n d a m a g e a t 3 p .m . D R . G A R N I S -J O N E S h a s 1 5 y e a r s o f e x p e r i e n c e w ith i n n o v a t i v e n o n -in v a s iv e t e c h n iq u e s to k e e p y o u r s k in lo o k in g h e a lth ie r a n d y o u n g e r. ~ E v e r y o n e W e lc o m e ~ 88 D unn S tre e t R d . E .) (ju st so u th o f L a k e sh o re S u it e ; # 4 0 1 , O a k v i l l e (9 0 5 ) 8 4 9 - 5 6 7 4 Within the school system, drugs are "not only prevalent, but reasonably rampant," said one woman. Parent Watch group mem bers believe people need to admit the problem is growing and apply pressure for local solutions and services. "It seems incredibly naive that a community the size of Halton doesn't choose to recog nize its problem," said one man. Added another woman, "This forum needs to be a coli seum of parents, so everyone knows this is an epidemic." Jim Harkins, founder and president of Family Adolescent Straight Talk Inc., said many people refuse to admit there is a drug problem in Halton. However, the 1999 Halton sur vey found drug use among Grade 7 to OAC stu TOWEL & BEDDING' dents in the region mirrors that of other communities across the province. Harkins, whose Oakvillebased non-profit organization offers some serv For The For The l'o r The ices for families dealing with drug Tea Towels Comforters use, said he Bath Towels expects to serve Dish Cloths Sheet Sets Hand Towels 300 youth this Aprons Pillows Face Cloths year. Pot Holders Mattress Pads Bath Sheets Still, his organ Oven Mitts Duvets Pool Towels ization receives no Place Mats Duvet Covers Tub Mats government fund ing, leaving par C a m b r id g e H a m ilto n S r. J a c o b s C o o k sto w n N ia g a r a F a l l s ents to fork out 3311Hwy#89 7500 Lundy' s Lane 64GmndAve.S. 341 Ottawa St N. 25 Benjamin Rd. cash for the social St Jacobs Cookstoum Mfr' s Canada One Southworks (at Barton) services their kids Outlet Mall Outlet Mall Factory Outlet Outlet Mall need. (905) 371-3427 (519)622-5542 (905)549-3056 (519) 746-9186 (705) 458-2442 Along with a shortage of treat ment facilities and programs for Halton teens, the region also has to E s ta b lis h e d in 1850 ship homeless C A N A D A 'S o ld e s t e s ta b lis h e d a u c tio n house children out to Hamilton and p ro vid es e x p e rtis e in th e a p p ra is a l a n d s a le o f fu rn itu re, Mississauga silver, c e ra m ic s , je w e lle ry , g la s s , p a in tin g s , o rie n ta lia , because of the C a n a d ia n , Inuit a n d o th e r n a tiv e art, b o o ks, m ilitaria, lack of youth co llectib les, etc. -- e ith e r individual item s o r c o m p le te shelters. Meeting the co n te n ts o f h o m e . needs of troubled E s ta te a u c tio n s a re held on a w e e k ly b as is in o u r galleries ; youth requires a co-operative in te rn atio n a l c a ta lo g u e d a u c tio n s a re held tw ice y e a rly an d approach, said s p e c ia lis t s a le s th ro u g h o u t th e year. Parent Watch co All a s p e c ts o f c le a ra n c e a re h a n d le d , including p ac kin g an d director Ray Pidzamecky, a c a rta g e to o u r s a le room s. D e ta ile d ac c o u n tin g a n d p ro m p t local youth social re m itta n c e o f p ro c e e d s a re p ro vid ed fo r all c a te g o rie s o f worker. sa le . He believes parents, educa O u r s taff e x p e rts bring k n o w le d g e a n d e x p e rtis e , w h e th e r tors, community agencies, the fo r A p p ra is a ls o f E s ta te p ro p e rty, In s u ra n c e p u rp o s e s o r for courts and the au c tio n . T h e s e s e rv ic e s a re c h a rg e d on a p e rc e n ta g e b asis police must work o r fo r a p re -a rra n g e d inclu sive fe e . together to find a community solu 111 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario M5V 2R1 tion for local Tel: 416-504-9100 Toll Free: 1-877-504-5700 Fax: 416-504-0033 kids. www.waddingtonsauctions.com 9+9f j * / / . v A t t i i t i dj W p ****** belief. "I didn't have a clue." Added another woman, "The problem starts in grade school, and nobody wants to hear that." Many parents also expressed concern with the potency of today's hydroponically-grown drugs. "This marijuana is laced with something. They're get ting addicted to it and going on to other drugs from it," said one woman, who admits her 15- and 16-year-old sons are both drug users. Not only do parents lack ade quate supports to deal with the problem, the school system also seems to be failing in its efforts to handle drug issues, said many parents at the meeting. amtotlige. MILL OUTLET ons