FUNDING INCREASE FOR YOUTH ADDICTIONS & CRYSTAL METH

VANCOUVER – B.C. is increasing annual funding by $8 million for crystal meth treatment options and youth addictions services, including increasing bed capacity for youth with addictions and building treatment programs and supports for crystal meth users, Health Minister George Abbott announced today.

Today’s announcement means new funding will be added to the base budgets of all six health authorities. $6 million is dedicated to youth addictions treatment and $2 million to crystal meth treatment programs. The new funding builds on existing youth addictions services and the $7-million crystal meth strategy announced by Premier Gordon Campbell in September 2005. Budget 2006 also provided an additional $2 million over three years to the Crystal Meth Secretariat to integrate and co-ordinate efforts to combat the production and use of crystal meth.

“B.C. is a leader in youth addictions treatment,” said Abbott. “Today’s announcement means that the number of youth addictions treatment beds will increase by approximately 75 per cent and allows us to build capacity to ensure youth across the province get the assistance they need. In addition, the crystal meth funding will ensure targeted treatment and support services are in place for individuals using methamphetamine and their families.”

“Successful prevention and treatment programs start at the community level,” said John Les, Solicitor General and minister responsible for B.C.’s crystal meth strategy. “This funding will work in conjunction with our other anti-meth initiatives to help communities respond directly to the threat of meth and develop local resources and solutions.”

The new annual funding will be distributed as follows:

Vancouver Coastal Health receives $2,183,915.
Fraser Health receives $1,964,558.
The Vancouver Island Health Authority receives $1,539,324.
Interior Health receives $1,261,421.
Northern Health receives $426,662.
The Provincial Health Services Authority receives $624,120.

“This funding addresses the needs of our most vulnerable youth,” said Kathy Snowden, program director from the Boys and Girls Club in Vancouver. “This is another example of the work from Vancouver Coastal and the provincial government that will again meet the needs of our youth and their families struggling with substance abuse.”

Health authorities will use the money for youth addictions services to increase capacity and develop new treatment services for youth. The crystal meth funding will be used to develop targeted treatment programs, including individual and group counselling, and recovery support, for methamphetamine users and their families. Programs will target high-risk groups such as youth – particularly those living on the street, and young adults.

The new funding will bring the total number of addictions treatment beds available in the province up to 1038, with 158 dedicated to youth. B.C. is a leader in western Canada in addressing the need for youth-specific addictions treatment beds and provides more youth residential treatment beds per capita than most provinces. Along with enhanced treatment, B.C.’s crystal meth strategy includes community initiatives, school-based awareness programs and a public education campaign.

The Ministry of Health provides over $1 billion each year for mental health and addictions services.

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For more information on the Crystal Meth Secretariat, go to: www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/crystalmeth/

2 backgrounder(s) attached.
Media contact:	Marisa Adair Communications Director Ministry of Health 250 952-1889 250 920-8500 (cell) 250 952-1887 (media line)

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