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Published: 09 June 2021

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CBC News – June 2021

"I was hanging around some older kids, and I got into a drug called ecstasy and I was addicted to that," she said, explaining she began experimenting with drugs in high school in an effort to fit in.

But things changed when one of the older guys she hung out with offered her crystal meth, a much cheaper alternative to the drugs she had been buying.

"From there, I never touched another drug. It had a hold on me for the first time I used it." 

It was the beginning of a long descent… She lost her job, got kicked out of school and eventually wound up in jail multiple times.

"That was always my detox — going to jail," she said. "When I'd get out I always had these good intentions to stay clean. But I just didn't know how to."

Drug court answers prayers - Her prayers were answered in the form of drug treatment court in Regina, which mandated that she live in an approved residence called Kate's Place. 

"Thank God I did, because my family, I can manipulate. My friends, I can manipulate. If I were to live by myself, I could have used and no one would know," she said, adding that she needed long-term treatment, not just a 30-day stay in a facility.

"So, Kate's Place and drug court, they were perfect for me."

Meagan Jasper graduated from drug court in Regina after 13 months. 

She hasn't used since she was arrested on Sept. 7, 2017. She has also gone back to school to get a business certificate and has found a job with the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan

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Published: 03 June 2021

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Earlier age at drug initiation has been shown to be associated with faster transition to substance use disorder (SUD).

Discussion | Using nationally representative data, we observed higher prevalence of SUD within 12 months of cannabis and prescription misuse initiation among adolescents than among young adults (e.g., cannabis use disorder: 10.7%vs 6.4% within 12 months; 20.1% vs 10.9% at more than 90 months), consistent with the association of faster transition to SUDs with younger age at drug initiation. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screening for substance use among adolescents, the US Preventive Services Task Force recommends such screening in primary care settings only among adults. Our results underscore the vulnerability of adolescents to SUDs and the importance of screening for substance misuse among adolescents.

Dr Nora Volkow et al – Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Demand Reduction, Prevention and Early Intervention, including drug screening of teens is good public and personal health practice.

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Published: 30 March 2021

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Drug involvement at the most recent FDV (Family/Domestic Violence) incident was also associated with over twice the odds of injury and significantly greater negative life impact. The findings that drug use increases both the risk for and impact of FDV indicate the need for policy that advocates for interventions addressing both drug use and violence in combination.

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Published: 23 February 2021

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(Drug Use Permission Models – The War FOR Drugs – Only worsens this horrendous and growing Issue #childprotection #preventdontpromote)

The first key component of helping drug endangered children is establishing a clear understanding of the risks children face when their caregivers are engaged in drug activity or substance use. This knowledge highlights the need for collaborative efforts to help these children and their families and motivates practitioners to look at how they can do their jobs more effectively to provide better outcomes for drug endangered children, families, and communities. Alliance practitioners include law enforcement agencies; child welfare professionals; prosecutors; judges and other judicial staff; medical personnel; teachers and other school personnel; probation, parole, and corrections personnel; treatment providers; and prevention specialists.

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