Parents of drug-addicted teenagers in Saskatchewan will be able to force their children into drug treatment programs under a new law that goes into effect April 1.

Under the Youth Drug Detoxification and Stabilization Act, parents of children aged 12 to 17 can apply to a judge to have a child put into a short-term detoxification program against his or her will.

Manitoba will introduce similar legislation in April, while Alberta's law giving parents the power to put their children into mandatory drug treatment programs comes into effect on July 1.

Saskatchewan Healthy Living Minister Graham Addley said the law will help parents, guardians and caregivers deal with young people addicted to drugs such as crystal meth, which has exploded in popularity in Western Canada.

"There's a lot of fear for parents who have children that are severely addicted and this was that last stop gap, that last safety net," he said.

If a judge agrees that forcible treatment is needed, two doctors must carry out separate assessments. The youth could then be required to seek detoxification help in his or her home community for up to 30 days.

Otherwise, the child could be sent to a special unit of a youth facility in Regina for an involuntary stay of up to 15 days. The government said that option is intended as a last resort for the most serious cases.

Last year, the Opposition Saskatchewan Party made involuntary detox programs a major issue in the legislature.

Saskatchewan Party MLA Ted Merriman, who has spoken publicly about his own adult daughter's struggles with crystal meth addiction, said it's good the government is moving ahead on the proposal, but added it should have acted sooner.

Crystal meth is the street form of the drug methamphetamine hydrochloride. It has grown in popularity because it can be produced with relative ease using legal ingredients including pseudoephedrine — which is found in certain cold remedies — ammonia, paint thinner and drain cleaner.

Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta have all restricted sales of some cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine.