Question: If I suspect my child is using drugs, how can IMPACT help?
Answer: IMPACT is always available to provide counselling services to any youth who seeks counselling. As a parent, you may encourage your child to meet with one of our counsellors in whatever way you feel would be appropriate. In the end, however, neither IMPACT nor a parent can force a youth to engage in counselling, and what is said between your child and his or her IMPACT counsellor is confidential.
Sometimes youth are not immediately ready or willing to meet with a counsellor one-on-one, so IMPACT also has a daily drop-in program where youth can interact with our counsellors on a more informal basis.
IMPACT also has regular activity programs that youth can join in on after a brief intake session. Check our calendar for a list of these activities.
If your child has drug-related problems at school or with the law, many School District #34 schools and parole officers may mandate a youth to attend one of our interactive workshops or one-on-one counselling.
Question: Can I sit in on a counselling session with my child?
Answer: IMPACT provides family counselling sessions that can include any member of the family, so long as all persons agree to the family session.
If your child is an active client with IMPACT, our counsellors are also happy to meet with you separately to discuss how your child's drug use is affecting you and what you might be able to do to improve the situation.
If your child is not an active client with us, please contact Abbotsford Addiction Centre, which provides counselling services to adults affected by the drug use of other persons.
Question: Can IMPACT administer a drug test on my child?
Answer: IMPACT does not administer drug tests. Further, we have cause to be concerned about the usefulness of drug tests, especially if they are done without a youth's consent.
If you are interested in having your child drug tested, a test can usually be arranged through your family physician, but only if your child gives consent. These tests are typically considered "elective," so they may not be covered by MSP.
There are also many drug testing kits available on the internet, but IMPACT suggests you read the following studies and reports before using one of these kits, as the use of these testing kits can provide inaccurate or incomplete information and can also potentially undermine the parent-child relationship.
Question: Might my child make drug connections with other youth if he or she attends a group program at IMPACT?
Answer: This phenomenon is called "contagion," and it is a risk wherever youth are in groups. We are mindful of this effect and therefore aim to run groups that do not mix using and non-using youth. However, we recognize that, among using youth, there can be a wide range of levels of involvement. For example, one youth may only be in the early stages of alcohol experimentation, where another may be a long-term user of alcohol and other drugs.
Because our services are specifically about drug use, we will allow and even encourage youth to talk about real issues going on in their lives, but our policy is that when drug use is discussed it is not to be promoted and the risks of use are to be acknowledged.
Question:What do IMPACT services cost?
Answer: Due to our generous funders and contributors, all of IMPACT's services and programs are free.
Question:What if my child does not have transportation to get to IMPACT?
Answer: IMPACT may be able to provide bus passes to help clients get to and from counselling appointments. We can also set up appointments to meet with youth at local schools they may be attending. We also have an outreach counsellor who is often able to meet clients where they are in the community and conduct counselling appointments at restaurants or coffee shops - wherever it is safe and convenient.
Question: Can IMPACT provide a referral or fee subsidy for detoxification or treatment?
Answer: Yes, if a youth wants and needs to go into detox or a residential treatment program, an IMPACT counsellor can make a referral to any Fraser Health Authority funded detox or treatment program that offers services to youth.
IMPACT may also be able to arrange for a fee subsidy if treatment costs cannot be fully covered by the youth or his or her family.
Typically a youth will need to meet with an IMPACT counsellor a few times so that the counsellor can make a thorough assessment of the type and appropriateness of treatment before making a referral.
IMPACT counsellors typically maintain periodic contact with clients while they are in detox or treatment and continue to be available as a resource for aftercare once treatment has been completed.
New FAQ questions and answers will be added to this section as they are available. If you have any other questions or would like to see the answers to other questions listed here, feel free to contact us at any time.