| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 3/9/2009 11:07:20 AM | Update for anyone following:
So far, of all the people that I'm aware of attending AARC via a court order EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM was sent there by the SAME judge! Interesting that she's just married to one of AARC's board members! Interesting that the US can't court order people into AA meetings or programs as it violates their freedom of RELIGION!
and
From March 4th
http://www.cbc.ca/eyeopener/
(I was able to listen with RealPlayer)
Rachel Notley is calling for an investigation into AARC. She states in the interview that the ministry of children's services has enough information to be launching an investigation whether the program is considered residential or not.
Glad things are rolling! | |
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 3/9/2009 12:03:58 PM | Glad to see things beginning to recieve some more recognition and your petition gaining a little bit more momentum. Seemed like it was going awfully slow for a while there.  Again, good luck, and best wishes to the victims. | |
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 5/3/2009 5:12:38 PM | One girl's experience... taken from a recent post to another forum:
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i was in aarc. about 5 years ago... funnyt hink the gitl racheal o neil she was in there when i was and she was my "newcomer" yes there are alot of aarc lingo is what they called it. its amazing how institutionalized you become and how imposssible it is to stay free even within the depths of your own mind. Most of the kids and i will say kids many only 12 years old, are from white middle class families usually whose parents were or just recently got divorced. some had had a parent pass away. many of the kids were rebelling against strict parents and just didnt have the right support in there lives to learn how to effectivly deal with problems. now i was not raped i suffred little to no physical abuse. however i witnessed 14 year old girls with spirits get broken down inside. i watched a full sized man who is a kick boxing champion and a peer counsellor( not qualified in anyway but he had been in the program as a teenager) physically wrestler her through her to ground i watched her on many occasions get dogpiled by staff members- she was about 120 pounds tops but apparently you need 6 staff member to "restrain" her- even though she had not done anything physical -she simply was not listening to there demands to aplogize for something she most likey did not do. the problem with aarc and places like it is that there is so much potential for abuse and absolutley NO WAY to let anyone know. Dr. Vause truly feeels he is making a difference and he also truly belivesthe kids are all liars- therefor enablling the abuse. for no ones word means a thing. i often lied more than telling the truth but it was because my truths were often percieved as lies- it was not what they wanted to hear- we were coached we were persuaded in the worsts ways to become all the same drones. so sad. the emotional trauma and distrust that i have felt due to this place is irrevokable. now there will always be supporters because some people take to the brianwashing- some people like it and if they were living very unhealthy than it is a better alternative lifestyle- but unfortunatly the cliche "power curropts and absolute power currupts absolutly" could be a better one. Pe'ople are in charge and to such a high degree over "bad" "druggie" kids that there is an insermountable space for abuse of this power. you have to ask to talk you cannot talk to your parents- for the first few months- enough to get u in some of your own power- taking newcomers home. i still have dreams of trying to escape. i talk to many people who were in there with me- ah facebook. most are still drinking but not drug addicts. just grew out of the antics they put there parents through- which really was a family problem not the childs problem. we were the divorced parents target we were there scape goats and it cost us a year of our adocsents it cost us our trust in humanity. and for some, much more. they are like devote christians they think they are doing good- and they love the power. but some people dont need to christians or want to and are able to think logically and philisophically at there lives and do more than what they are told- even kids should be able to question what is right. i knew it wasnt. i new the entire time. but i felt like i didnt know how to explain why my basic rights were taken away.
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Personally, this is just wrong! | |
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 6/3/2009 1:40:20 PM | FYI
AARC Protest
Thursday June 4th 4:00 - 6:00pm
Regency Hyatt
7th Avenue & Centre Street
The media has picked this up
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 6/3/2009 7:26:45 PM | I am shocked that this could happen in Canada. I'm glad this has been brought to the attention of the media and the people in charge of this facility should face criminal charges. The people responsible for the sexual and physical abuses should be put in front of a wall and shot.
Yeah, I am a little old-fashioned when it comes to justice, but if we shot a few of these people, I bet a lot of other workers in other facilities would think twice before they tried this kind of crap. I'm not talking about vigiante justice, just a return to the public firing line for the predators if the world. Prisons are expensive and bullets are cheap. | |
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 6/3/2009 7:31:37 PM | | i say shoot them and send the bullet to the family,AND BILL THEM FOR IT!!!!,with tougher consequences some retards may refrain from pulling this crap off,Canadas legal system is a joke,specially with perverts | |
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 6/3/2009 8:39:03 PM | Since the police, children's services and pretty much every level of gov't seem to be incapable of doing anything about it, the only way is raising public awareness. I don't think any of these programs... Straight, Pathways, Kids Helping Kids, Synanon, Seed, Kids of Bergen County etc., have lasted more than 20 years.
There's a massive loop hole here... like the US is doing now, Canada needs a new act to regulate facilities (residential or not - it doesn't matter!) that have influence and control over youth, especially those that offer "therapy".
Just because the gov't doesn't pay directly in user fees doesn't make it ok to do whatever they want with children and families with no oversight. | |
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 6/4/2009 1:00:51 PM | One positive angle to forcing people with addictions into treatment, is that it MAY give some the "push" they need to change, ... the "time out" from their addictions to decide if they really can or want to change their destructive lifestyle.
Sometimes people need to be removed from their situation(s) in order to see "clearly".
Especially for harsh drug addiction, the families should have the right to at least try to save their children ... and themselves in some cases (from financial ruin trying to pay off the dealers and physical danger for those who can't pay ... to family/emotional/mental ruin).
Of course, the addict has to want to change, but he/she may get the "inspiration" if forced into it... | |
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 6/5/2009 8:05:56 PM | I can see your point Annonimiss, that addicts can get a break from their reality and a chance to work towards something better.
But no one can define an addict except the addict themselves. Even if they were forced into treatment they still need to survive "out there" and if treatment is going to work for them they have to actually be addicted, willing, and attend a facility that is professional, capable and will treat them with dignity and respect like a human being. | |
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 6/6/2009 10:47:07 PM | My two cents: The society that allows its government to force an "addict" into "treatment" is descending down a slippery slope of lossing civil liberties and will in no short amount of time find all kinds of people forced into all kinds of "treatment". I've certainly known people who were addicted to their "religion", should we allow our government to send them off for reconditioning as well?
The first and most fundemental freedom we possess as individuals is the right to decide what we put into our own bodies, for good or bad. If we have problems of crime caused by homeless drug addicts upon our streets we should be looking at the underlying causes: the social inequities, the lack of proper mental health treatment centers, lack of funding for education, the greater value placed upon money than people by our society, the errosion of meaningful jobs in our "service economy", etc etc.
Building jails and forcing treatment upon those who do not want or are not ready for them will not make our social problems go away. | |
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 6/7/2009 10:23:28 AM | | But for a family, desperate to save their loved one from total self-destruction and death, they should not even be given at least a chance to save him/her? | |
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 6/7/2009 1:19:08 PM | | Not if the forced treatment can cause your loved one even more harm. The sexual and physical abuses described by AARC survivors is a prime example of why private facilities need constant and vigilant scrutiny from regulatory bodies who actually care. I would rather treat my own child or loved one than subject them to being raped and beaten. | |
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 6/8/2009 8:20:39 AM | | Totally agree with you on those points... especially the monitoring of the private treatment centers. But, I do wonder if most parents have the strength and the means to keep their kids away from the "evils" for long enough to help them? | |
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 6/9/2009 7:28:50 AM | The Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre or AARC is a spinoff from the Straight Inc., program that ran in the 80's in the US. AARC isn't alone though, several others such as Kids of Bergen County, Kids Helping Kids, Pathways Family Centre. The following is taken from a site comparing Pathways to Straight, with the exception of singing children's songs, AARC is the same:
Anyone can see by reading through these similarities that Pathway Family Center is still essentially the same program as STRAIGHT Inc. was. Read this list and judge for yourself.
1. Host homes are still used.
2. Phase/Level system is still used ( In the past it was a 5 phase program plus a follow-up period. Now Pathway has combined the follow-up and claims to use 6 phases to appear to be a different program).
3. Friday night Open meeting.
4. Monday night Parent rap.
5. Peer staff (non-professional staff).
6. Façade of a complaint procedure.
7. No Church until higher phase.
8. No (regular) school until higher phase.
9. First phase can last up to a year or more.
10. Restraint and isolation.
11. No privacy in shower or toilet.
12. Must make confessions or will not progress from phase one.
13. No communication with parents until deemed appropriate by Executive staff.
14. Talk is a short reward which is supervised.
15. Sit on hard chairs and stare at a wall most of the day.
16. Confrontation by the group.
17. Raps.
18. Singing of children’s songs throughout every day.
19. Chanting of steps upon command and chanting of rules.
20. Communication cut off from outside world including any friends and any police or CPS workers on first phase.
21. Writing of Moral Inventories (MI’s) every night.
22. Newcomers and Oldcomers.
23. Newcomer MI’s "gone over" by oldcomers
24. Can be demoted to day one on first phase at any time at the discretion of staff.
25. Vague, ambiguous rules list which is difficult to remember and follow.
26. Homes, after Open meeting.
27. In-towners and out-of-towners.
28. Parents are reimbursed for travel, food and housing expenses, but poorly.
29. No druggie friends.
30. No druggie thoughts.
31. Must admit past in group and in Open meeting to progress.
32. What happens in group stays in group rule.
33. No talking behind backs rule.
34. Anonymity and confidentiality rules.
35. No playing off ( Making a complaint after a resolution has been denied by another).
36. Must explain to group, “how does that make you feel”.
37. Environment is completely controlled on lower phases.
38. Environment is heavily restricted on upper phases.
39. Fundraising is key to the program.
40. Phaser room at host home must be alarmed and/or locked.
41. Oldcomers and host home parents must physically stop or restrain newcomers if they try to run away or try to get help.
42. “Love Ya” is chanted during open meeting, group and often includes the name of another person such as “Love Ya Terri”.
43. The Disease Concept and Tough love concept are seen as irrefutable methods of treatment when ther has been no scientific evidence to suggest that this is at all effective.
44. Parents and kids are told that without the program they would be dead, insane or in jail.
45. If parents ask too many questions, the program staff will threaten withdrawal of the kid to scare the parents into submission.
46. Refreshers are still implemented.
47. A follow-up is still used if deemed appropriate by staff.
48. No druggie slang.
49. No druggie images.
50. Kids are diagnosed by in-house staff.
51. There is no program accountability at host homes.
52. Kids in the program are generally given no due process under the law and are therefore mostly imprisoned illegally.
53. Only program related material is to be read on lower phases.
54. No reading of anything else until on a higher phase.
55. No TV, radio, movies, media normal teenage music, reading of newspapers or any other normal life experiences allowed until a certain phase is achieved as deemed by staff.
56. Progression in the program is at the complete discretion of staff and there is no definitive process for progressing except to please the staff in whatever way they desire for that person.
57. Lying about their success rate when there has been no legitimate study to gauge the long term success rates or rates of harm to clients.
58. Fraudulent marketing including false success rate and that other treatment options don’t exist or are ineffective.
59. Exaggeration of kid’s problems to parents and the outside world.
60. Rigid and numerous mundane rules with little or no meaning.
61. Forced feeling of powerlessness on kids.
62. Breaking down of the will and spirit of a kid so they are unconfident, insecure and scared of the world as well as themselves.
63. Must ask oldcomer for permission at host home to do almost everything, including picking up a spoon to eat or to use toilet tissue after using the restroom.
64. Must memorize all program rules and doctrine.
65. Must admit to being a drug addict.
66. Must admit to being powerless over drugs.
67. Must admit to more drug use than actually happened.
68. No writing or labels on clothes.
69. Program Jargon is primarily the same.
70. Kids are still started over or put on "Day One".
71. Chain of Command (COC)
72. No thinking about music rule.
73. No thinking about past friends rule.
74. No thinking about fun times in the past rule.
75. Kids are labelled "manipulative" and "liars" to hide the abuse within the program.
76. Numerous psychological brainwashing techniques including milieu control and communication control.
77. No reading anything other than program related material or the Bible until 3rd phase.
78. No contact between the kid and his/her religious leader while on lower phases and no going to church on Sunday. No contact with church group.
79. Must focus on drug problem at all times while on lower phases which can last for months or even over a year.
80. Must list (supposed) drugs used in Open meeting.
81. The Program Still refer to themselves as "The Program".
82. Kids and parents on upper phases are pressured to "give back" to the program by conducting speaking engagements and speaking to potential recruits.
83. A kid's Anonymity and Confidentiality are encouraged to be broken if it serves the interest of the program or puts the program in a good light.
84. Kids are denied professional medical care.
85. There are no Detox services or physical drug withdrawal services offered by Pathway.
86. The Program still considers itself to be the last resort to helping kids with drug addictions without any proof or scientific documentation of this.
87. The Program still insists that other treatment programs don't work without offering any concrete evidence.
88. Serious issues, such as a kid cutting themselves, attempting to commit suicide, being restrained or trying to escape are not reported to anyone, including parents.
89. The program claims to treat the worst of the worst kids with drug problems without any evidence of this being the case.
90. Kids are denied dignity and are treated as if they have no human rights on lower phases.
91. "The Group" is still hidden away from the public, Parents, Law Enforcement Officials and Child Protective Services under the guise of confidentiality rules or laws.
92. Coerced false confessions.
93. Peer pressure (Group) is used to narrow thinking and modify behavior so the client becomes part of the collective while losing identity.
94. Constant reminding of how bad the kid is and the focus is always brought back to a negative self image.
95. Kids must "tell on themselves" in group if they have had any inappropriate thoughts.
96. Kids are made to believe that the staff at the program can't be conned and can "read the kids' minds".
97. Immense pressure is placed on the kids to confess past transgressions in Group. (which is similar to public confessions used by the Chinese to berate and degrade)
98. Newcomers are physically controlled by Oldcomers or staff at all times.
99. Sleep deprivation is implemented by allowing host parents to "drop off" program kids very early in the morning at the program building.
100. The "drug problem" is always the center of focus and nothing is more important to focus on in the program.
101. "The Basics" ( The Steps, Serenity Prayer, etc.) are still preached at Pathway as doctrine.
102. Kids are pressured to "tell on each other" for minor infractions of program rules or for even a suspicion. Ratting out other kids can help a kid to progress in the program.
103. Attention such as media or advertising is only allowed if it puts a positive spin on the program. Any attemt to shed light on a negative aspect will be met with complete opposition.
104. Anonymity and Confidentiality rules are cited when anyone inquires about what happens inside the program. The program instructs clients to waive this right if it will benefit the program.
105. If a client does poorly or speaks against the program after graduating, the program staff are quick to blame the character of the person. But, if the former client does well, the program staff are quick to take credit for the person's recovery.
106. The "Honesty" concept is still perverted and used as a tool to achieve conformity by steering clients to make negative confessions about onesself while the program hides its true nature from the public.
107. Many behaviors that can be considered "normal teen behavior" are labeled as indicators of drug use by the program. The program would have parents believe that normal adolescence is a disease or a crime.
108. Brainwashing techniques are still implemented daily.
No child should be abused in the name of treatment
www.stopaarc.org | |
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 6/9/2009 9:49:16 AM | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On a good note: The Mustard Seed owns a place out by Sundre called the Mountain Aire Lodge. It is for people who want to quit drugs and alcohol to get away and work in a setting that won't enable them. It is a beautiful place, and it provides stability and work experience/skills so that (hopefully) after one has done their time there, they don't return to using again. | |
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 6/10/2009 4:09:17 PM | We undoubtedly need facilities, ^^^ I've heard good things about that one.
Addicts definitely need somewhere to go if they want help... but the places have to be safe. They need to be regulated and using models not known to harm people.
"Absolute power corrupts absolutely" | |
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 6/21/2009 12:39:19 AM |
Some private facilities uses this model and forces addicts into treatment, such as a local program for adolescents, which boasts an 85% success rate
But what people don't know is Private Facilities in Canada that are willing to do the whole process from Intervention to treatment charge upwards of $23,000. What kind of addict has this kind of money and what kind of addicts family can afford this kind of money. I know that money should be no issue when it comes to saving your loved one's life but sometimes it's just not doable.
It is also a myth that people can't get drugs in jail. Sometimes it is actually easier for people who are well known to get drugs in jail, even if they are not well known there is always some corrupt person working in the system or criminals find some way to get the drugs in. It's all about the drug no matter where they go.
Unfortunately in Alberta the resources we have to help those addicted to drugs are limited. We are currently dealing with a close family friend who is suffering from a seven year long prescription pill addiction and has recently graduated to cocaine and meth and we have called every number, spoke to every police division, every hospital, every crisis line, and almost every rehab facility in Canada. In most cases these rehab centers require the addict to call in and have a pre-assessment, then go in for a meeting with them, then they determine if they are helpable. In speaking with an interventionist on more than one occasion it is known that you only have a split second for them to say yes and then you start to move. This process does no good for anyone.
Instead addicts that want help can't get it and stay addicted, and end up in jail or dead. That's the Alberta Advantage eh. | |
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 7/6/2009 12:18:02 PM | I couldn't agree more with the above poster.
Those who contributed $15+ Millions of dollars to the unregulated dangerous programs should redirect their contributions to industry-accepted safe facilities ran by qualified professionals and not in-house uneducated recent graduates with no clinical experience. These safe programs could then subsidize those clients who can not afford treatment.
The money is there, it's just being misdirected.
Our province definitely needs good programs so the bad ones won't be used simply because of few better alternatives.
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The AARC protest at their stampede breakfast was a resounding success. We (and AARC) were clearly visible and quite a presence on Glenmore Trail, Forge Road and Farrell Road SE.
Global News was driving by, interviewed the protesters and featured the event on Calgary local news last night. So many people will be tuning in for the Stampede highlights and will get the message.
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 8/17/2009 6:36:38 PM | From:
http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/discussion/2009/02/powerless.html#comments
i believe that aarc's days are numbered. and all that is needed to stop aarc is for THE TRUTH to come out!
aarc brutally abuses teens, and has done so systematically for years. that is the truth.
the people who run aarc and their staff are members of a cult that use their cult beliefs to modify behavior. that is the truth.
aarc uses manipulation and coercion on teens, as well as the alberta government. that is the truth.
THANK GOD THIS IS BEING DUSCUSSED! i am very surpirsed, but very impressed and proud as well that canadians are not putting up with this crap!
oh and to the previous poster: i will try to remember to live in the moment, and that expectations are pre-meditated resentments, and that all we have is today, and that my familly is dangerous to my recovery, and that if i ever drink again i will die, and that i can never see my friends again, and that i am POWERLESS.
AARC held it's Charity Golf Tournament today. I'm curious how much $$$ was raked in. | |
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 8/17/2009 7:24:55 PM | I haven't read all the posts, I think I may have responded to this one way back under my old profile, but anyway....
Have you watched shows like OCD, Hoarders or Invention? If not, I recommend doing so. Anytime I think I've hit rock bottom, I watch these shows and feel no, I'm not doing so terribly. I'm doing pretty okay.
Many people who suffer from addictive behaviours have something medically wrong with them.
A person can only be helped when they want to be helped. This may take several years of begging and pleading, crying and fighting with family members and loved ones. Most often an addict has to hit rock bottom, and lose everything before they realize they do need to get help. Some never get past the point of rock bottom and often wind up losing themselves in their addictions.
To see positive results in the end, the addict must be willing to make changes themselves, they must stick with treatments, stick with their therapy sessions, or take medications if needed. You can force a person into treatment, but it's up to them to continue the work and stay clean. | |
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 8/25/2009 8:44:34 PM | Now an adult, a former client is being sued for speaking out about abuse she suffered as a forced rehab client:
http://www.calgarysun.com/news/alberta/2009/08/19/10510986-sun.html
She is seen here on the Fifth Estate:
http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/2008-2009/powerless/video.html | |
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 8/26/2009 9:43:05 PM | Forcing addicts in to treatment does not work. A person has to hit their bottom, and contrary to popular belief it does not have to be a cardboard box. My 12 year old daughter gave me my bottom when she told me to kill myself as it would be faster then what I was doing to myself with alcohol. No I did not beat her or my ex and maintained a very successful career through all my drinking. Still had house two cars etc.
The worse thing addiction does is cause the addict to go against their true self. At the core of my being I always knew I would be a good father but due to alcohol I was not. I could NOT understand why I would die for my children, run in a burning building etc, yet I was not truly living because of my addiction.
I have been sober now for 15 months and my daughter telling me she loves me in front of her friends is all the reward I need. She is now 14. | |
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 9/9/2009 6:42:27 PM |
“‘Like I was just f---king angry and I remember I just started choking her,’” Evans told Vancouver police a few days after the August 2007 slaying. “‘I don’t even know whether I choked her first or whether I hit her first. I remember at one point just swinging away and then I remember sitting there and, ‘Holy f--k, she’s dead.’”
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Trial%20Kitsilano%20massage%20parlour%20killing%20gets%20under/1973561/story.html
AARC graduate Andy Evans worked as a peer counselor at the Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre (AARC).
Prior to this he was an "oldcomer" client, responsible for the care, including overnight unsupervised care of these "newcomers" in the facility's unlicensed, host homes.
This graduate was capable of murdering a 33 year old woman because HE couldn't sustain an erection.
Guess it wasn't really safe to force other troubled youth into his care at AARC.
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 10/20/2009 6:22:01 PM | 
YES!
The 24th Annual Gemini Awards:
Best Host or Interviewer in a News Information Program or Series
Gillian Findlay - CBC News: the fifth estate -
For their expose on the Alberta Adolescent Recovery Center titled "Powerless"
You can still view it here:
http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/2008-2009/powerless/video.html | |
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| Forcing Addicts into treatment
Posted: 10/20/2009 7:07:31 PM | | Thanks for sharing that link Cndn Girl. That's a powerful and informative program. Shocking!!! | |
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