Francophone youth residential centre begun
Ottawa's first residential addiction treatment centre for francophone teenagers will be up and running this fall.
Vanier-based Maison Fraternité has started building a five-bed facility to help young people, aged 13 to 17, who are addicted to drugs or alcohol.
The centre has been running a day program for many years, but wanted to help with more serious cases, said chairman Jean François Millotte.
"Some cases need more attention, they need to be followed closely. And they need an environment that will permit that," he said.
Ottawa Police Service Chief Vern White said the new centre will cut the number of addicts living on the streets in 10 years. "The earlier you get them …the more likely you are by three times to keep them off drugs," he said.
Although the project has the approval of many of the neighbourhood residents, some, like Frank Barrett, still feel uneasy about having a drug treatment centre close by.
"The people are doing an excellent job, I have no complaints, but I do feel it should be out in the country or someplace," he said.
About 50 francophone youth visit the Maison Fraternité daily for treatment.
