Home / Health / Portage Atlantic: A Year of Hope for Addicted Youth
Portage Atlantic: A Year of Hope for Addicted Youth
30 Jul
Summary
- Moncton drop-in centre supports youth aged 14-21 with addiction.
- Program helps 'treatment-resistant' youth prepare for recovery.
- Parent shares success story: son now college-bound after program.
A year ago, Portage Atlantic launched a vital drop-in centre in Moncton, expanding its services beyond its Cassidy Lake residential treatment facility. This new centre specifically targets youth aged 14 to 21 who may be resistant to traditional treatment approaches.
Operating on a "therapeutic community approach," the Moncton centre emphasizes peer support to help young individuals overcome addiction. This initiative aims to meet youth where they are, offering outreach and accessible support that might otherwise be overlooked. Feedback from the Cassidy Lake program indicated a need for better preparation for treatment, which the Moncton centre directly addresses.
In its first year, the Moncton centre engaged in 117 individual meetings and welcomed 115 parents to support groups. It also conducted 57 workshops and presentations. One parent shared a powerful success story, detailing how her son received non-judgmental counseling and support, leading to his successful program graduation and upcoming college enrollment.
Portage Atlantic hopes to replicate the Moncton centre's model in other parts of the province, aiming to reduce the stigma surrounding addiction and offer hope to young people and their families. The organization emphasizes accepting youth at any stage of their struggle.
