Agenda Package - City of Vernon

February 10,2010
His Worship Mayor Wayne Lippert
The City of Vernon
3400 30rh st
Vernon BC VIT 5E6
Dear Mayor Lippert:
BRITISH
Colunrste
f4Å
Ref: 190855
Thank you for your letter of January 15, 2010, on behalf of The City of Vernon addressed to the
Honourable Michael de Jong, Attorney General, regarding treatment options for youth
experiencing substance use problems and refusing withdrawal management (detox) or treatment
programs. I understand you also w¡ote to the Honourable Gordon Campbell, Premier.
Premier Campbell and Minister de Jong have asked that I respond on their behalf and as the
Minister of Children and Family Development and Minister Responsible for Child Care,I am
pleased to do so. The issues that you raised are very important to the well-being of our youth,
families and communities.
The Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) is responsible for community
mental health services for children and youth, youth justice services and other child and youth
services under the Child, Family and Community Service Act (CFCSA) such as child protection
services and services for youth-at-risk for sexual exploitation (including, for example, outreach
services, safe houses/emergency shelters, and youth agteements).
The Ministry of Health Services is responsible, through the Health Authorities, for the delivery
of youth substance use outreach, withdrawal management and treatment services. Health
Authorities work closely with MCFD to coordinate services for youth needing hospital,
community-based mental health andior substance use services.
The British Columbia Mental Healthlcr includes a provision for involuntary admission to a
designated facility or hospital for individuals with a mental disorder who also meet other specific
psychiatric criteria. A substance use disorder is considered a mental disorder, and as a result can
be included as meeting one, but not all, of the specifrc criteria for involuntary admission to
hospital. Involuntary hospital admission of youth under the Mental Health Act is far less
common than for adults and is most often related to high risk of harm to self or others due to a
serious mental illness such as a psychotic disorder. 1n200712008, there were 946 children and
youth under the age of l9 involuntarily admitted to hospitals in the province, typically for brief
periods; 137 of these youth had a primary diagnosis of substance use disorder.
t2
Ministry of
Children and Family
Development
and Minister Responsible
for Child Care
Ofice of the
Minister
Mailing Address:
Pa¡liament Buìldings
Victoria BC VBV iX4
382