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(Photo: Alberta Infrastructure)
opening this year

New youth detox facility in Red Deer nearing completion

Oct 9, 2019 | 3:41 PM

Local youth struggling with drug and alcohol abuse will soon have a new place to turn for help in getting clean.

After breaking ground last November, Red Deer’s new Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Facility (PChAD) will be handed over to Alberta Health Services (AHS) on schedule and on budget in December, according to Prasad Panda, Minister of Infrastructure for Alberta.

Once complete, the $9.1 million eight-bed facility will replace the current temporary five-bed facility, providing assessment, detoxification, addictions counselling, health services and 24-hour care and supervision to approximately 170 children and teens annually.

Roughly 100 youth are treated each year at the current facility.

AHS officials say the purpose of the PChAD program is to help youth aged 12-18 whose substance use has caused or is likely to cause significant physical, psychological or social harm to themselves or physical harm to others, and who are refusing voluntary treatment. Four such sites are located in Alberta.

Minister Panda describes the facility as a key infrastructure project for Red Deer youth struggling with addictions.

To protect the safety, privacy and confidentiality of the children and youth who reside at the facility for short stays however, AHS officials do not disclose its location.

The Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act is an Alberta law that took effect on July 1, 2006 to help children under 18 whose use of alcohol or drugs is likely to cause significant psychological or physical harm to themselves or physical harm to others.

In addition to the PChAD program, officials point-out AHS provides addiction prevention, treatment and counselling services and programs within the City of Red Deer and across the Central Zone.

Crisis Services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the Addictions Help Line, 1-866-332-2322.

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