July/August 2009

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Audrey Halliday, co-founder of PEP (Parents Empowering Parents), gave an account of her family’s personal journey to help a son addicted to Methadone. How could a handsome, happy athletic teenager with a wonderful sister and two loving parents choose drugs?  It made for a harrowing time for his parents

Mrs. Halliday related her search for help after her son went missing for days and was brought home by the RCMP. Although he had lost 40lbs, had not eaten or slept, the family was expected to care for him. Even with the help of family support workers and addiction counselling, their son continued to deal drugs and steal to fuel his drug addiction.

And like all addicts, the son refused to admit to his drug problem. The parents had all the responsibility but no control over him.  Society claimed that the son had a right to choose his life style.  In order to protect a younger sibling, the parents were forced to give their son the heart-wrenching ultimatum - accept treatment or leave the family home. The son chose the latter, but cold nights, hunger and hardships, were not enough to stop his addiction.

After a lengthy process of learning the system, a system that does not work for the addict, the family, the community or law enforcement officers, the Hallidays became a catalyst, for the government to look at adolescent drug abuse.   The Hallidays had formed a group with other parents who were also living the nightmare of a drug-addicted child.  They called their organization Parents Empowering Parents (P.E.P.: the website is: www.pepsociety.ca).  The organization provides education, innovative programming, support and hope for individuals or families dealing with substance abuse/addiction.  This volunteer group was responsible for the Alberta legislation entitled, “Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act.”  (PChAD) which constructively and compassionately addresses the problem of a drug addicted child in that province.
 
This legislation was passed in July 2006, and, under this legislation, parents may ask the court for an apprehension and conviction order for their child to be taken to a safe house for up to five days, even if carried out against the child’s wishes. In the safe house, the child is provided with counsellors and staff for treatment and detoxification.  The child can request a review of the confinement by way of the courts (a legal aid lawyer is provided for the adolescent).
 
This legislation was amended in the spring of 2009 to provide:
 
Increased confinement for 10 days;
Possibility of confinement for 5 more days after approval by court;
Disclosure of information to the parents on the child’s treatment and care without the child’s consent if it is in the child’s best interests that this information be released.

During the first 14 months of this legislation being in effect, there were 618 admissions to a safe house.  Half of these admissions were voluntary.  By March 2009, there were 1,500 court orders to protect adolescents by putting them in a safe house. 
 
Saskatchewan and Manitoba have passed similar legislation and B.C. is in the course of reviewing the legislation with a view to passing it in that province. 
 
 This legislation is the most positive direction taken on drug treatment for adolescents in Canada.  It is long overdue, and a fine model for all of Canada. 

The Halliday’s son, by the way, is now healthy, living on his own and working to complete an apprenticeship.  A child saved from destruction and an inevitable and unenviable death is a wonderful achievement.  Alberta has led the way on a very important family legislation.