Quitting crystal meth or other street drugs is tough enough, but simultaneously giving up smoking is too much for some Vancouver Island teens.

A no-smoking rule imposed by the Vancouver Island Health Authority at the youth detox centre means some beds are empty in a facility that usually has a waiting list.

The five detox beds were full until three months ago, when smoking was forbidden, said Pat Griffin, executive director of Victoria Youth Empowerment Society, the agency that runs the detox centre. The facility caters to teens aged 13 to 18.

"We're now at about 75 per cent capacity and it's dropping each month," Griffin said. "A lot of referral agents say kids are not even willing to consider it because of the no-smoking [rule]. The kids are just saying 'no'"
Others are leaving before completing the program, which means they are more likely to revert to drug use. Seventy per cent of participants used to complete the program, but that's down to half and many of those leaving cite the smoking policy.

While smoking is a health risk, other drugs are a more immediate threat, said Griffin, who would like to see an exemption for the centre. "[The young addicts] might not live long enough to see any impact from smoking."
Dr. Richard Stanwick, chief medical health officer for the Capital Regional District, said the younger people start smoking, the younger they suffer tobacco-related diseases such as cancer and heart attacks. Detox is a good opportunity to persuade young people to try replacements for nicotine, which is also a drug, he argues. "How about if we just allowed drinking as well? Every one of these drugs is a dependency."

Studies show that those who deal with all their addictions at once are less likely to relapse, Stanwick said.

Tobacco must be worse than meth

Dr. Stanwick: "Studies show that those who deal with all their addictions at once are less likely to relapse."

They're dealing with it by leaving and not even coming in the first place.

"Detox is a good opportunity to persuade young people to try replacements for nicotine, which is also a drug."

You mean the ones who did come and those who haven't left, right? And what's the replacement you give them for nicotine, could it be...nicotine???

"How about if we just allowed drinking as well? Every one of these drugs is a dependency."

Stick to the subject: Meth and other street drugs. They're there to get off meth and other street drugs. Not alcohol. Not tobacco. Meth and other street drugs.

Maybe he should stick to the legality argument.

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You mean the ones who did come and those who haven't left, right? And what's the replacement you give them for nicotine, could it be...nicotine???

You bet that's exactly what he's talking about (nicotine gum, nicotine patches, nicotine inhalers). But this is GOOD nicotine from the pharmaceutical companies, Squeezer.

The guy's an idiot.

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The guy's an idiot.

INDEED...in tobaccokontrolspeak - nothing is worse than tobacco, be it meth, crack, heroine, PCP, you name it...These people are complete full of sh*t and are doing a disservice to real addicts, all because they get a ton of grant money for going after a completely legal and relatively harmless substance.

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"Studies show that those who deal with all their addictions at once are less likely to relapse."

Perhaps because they committ suicide? I have known a few people with serious drug and/or alcohol issues and the last thing anyone tells them to worry about is smoking. In fact, most drug and alcohol consulers recognize the value of smoking as a stress reliever when coming off the hard stuff - but I'm sure big pharma's nictotine patches and pills must be just as good - NOT!