15 yr. old - Clean & Sober But No Where To Go....

I'm helping a 15 year old in treatment for addiction and concurrent disorders in the US. This young one is committed to abstinence. When she returns to Toronto there are absolutely no sober/clean housing options for her. What about her rights - her right to choose not to use. It seems that it is everyone's inherent right to use drugs yet what about the ones who'd rather not, can't we support them too -- especially when they are under the age of 16? 
Am I the only one that thinks that this is topsy turvy? Why are we, as taxpayers paying for drug using housing for our young teens and tweens? Seems to me that we are failing them. 

Healing Cinema in the New Year

Here's a schedule for the films being played at the Healing Cinema in the New Year. This is also combined with a meeting of ACA (adult children of alcoholics or dysfunctional families) - optional - they are looking for more attendance.

The HC is held on Thursday nights 7-9pm at St Mich's hospital 6th floor Cardinal carter wing. It's for anyone looking to get healing.

The meetings will resume on January 10, 2013 by showing the series Bradshaw on the Family.

BRADSHAW ON THE FAMILY - A new way of Creating Solid Self Esteem

January 10th - Part One: The Family in Crisis - An Overview of What Constitutes a Family in Crisis.

January 17th - Part Two: The Healthy Family - How a Healthy Functional Family Operates

January 24th - Part Three: The Unhealthy Family - Characteristics of a Dysfunctional Family

January 31st - Part Four: The Compulsive Family - Compulsive Behaviour - the Core of All Addictions

February 7    - Part Five: The Persecuted - Incest and Violence Within the Family

February 14 -  Part Six:  The "Bad" Child - Shame and Moral and Emotional abuse.

February 21 - Part Seven:  The Most Common Family illness - Co-dependency/Mystification.  The Most Common untreated Addiction.

February 28 - Part Eight:  Help For the Family - Dealing with Resentments.  Getting to Forgiveness.

March   7th   - Part Nine: Health for the Family - Stopping the 'Denial of Problems, Making Interventions Within the Family

March   14th - Part Ten: Hope for the Family - Healing Ourselves, Healing the World

Ali and her story of hope and teen recovery.

Ali's Story

Young Ones Breaking Barriers - Testimonial

"I first heard of Young Ones in an online mental health forum. They were sending out a compiled list of other support groups and services. I had also been seeing a therapist for depression, anxiety, and trauma issues, but the school year had ended, along with my funding. I decided to give Young Ones a try for the summer due to the free 10 sessions. I've made significant progress since then. For the first time ever in my life, I learned techniques on how to handle emotions such as anger and anxiety. In addition to a supportive counsellor (Susan Raphael), I have also been blessed to have found a support group where my thoughts, opinions, and hopes for recovery are finally considered worthy of validation and respect. I don't think I would be able to cope with the ongoing pressures of university life if it wasn't for Young Ones. Even though life isn't perfect and I still have some dark moments from time to time, I feel more confident as I continue the road to recovery. Thank You for supporting Young Ones, I wouldn't be there if it wasn't for you."

A Young Ones Mentor.