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Drugs and Alcohol
The Lower Mainland Purpose Society
is providing a variety of addiction services. They include individual, group
and family counselling and psycho-educational and support groups that are
comprehensive, youth-friendly and practical.
Our team of experts is
knowledgeable about the issues young people face when they become involved in
substance misuse/abuse. Utilizing a client-centered, strength-based approach,
our addictions team works collaboratively with young people to identify
problems, set treatment goals and work towards healthier choices for the future.
Currently, the Lower Mainland
Purpose Society provides addictions services in two settings. They are the
Burnaby Youth Custody Centre and The Cedars, a residential treatment program for
young women 13-18 years of age.
Burnaby Youth Custody Centre
Addiction counsellors provide
orientation sessions on a weekly basis to all new youth arriving at the centre.
These sessions include a discussion of the nature of addiction counselling, a
description of the addiction program available at BYCC and the continuum of
services available through Purpose. Participation in the program is voluntary.
The BYCC Youth Addiction Program
includes:
Individual counselling, a variety
of psycho-educational groups, including YSAM, Relapse Prevention and Harm
Reduction, and the provision of resources and referrals necessary to assist the
youth in transitioning back into the community.
Within a safe environment, the
counselling team encourages youth to evaluate their substance use/misuse,
examining the role and impact that it has on their lives. The addiction counsellors educate youth on the abstinence/harm reduction continuum, increase
awareness of the consequences of substance misuse, provide education and
information on the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol, and assist youth to
develop recovery or harm reduction strategies and to identify triggers leading
to relapse.
The addiction counsellors assist
youth in their move back into the community by developing a plan that meets the
needs of each youth. This is done in collaboration with community probation, as
well as other service providers who offer community-based resources. Individual
counseling and group work provide opportunities to teach youth life skills that
will contribute to successful re-integration in the community and to assist
youth in their capacity to engage in a healthier lifestyle.
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