Pubdate: Thu, 15 Mar 2001
Source: Mission City Record (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 The Mission City Record
Contact:  33047 1st Ave., Mission B.C., V2V 1G2
Website: http://www.missioncityrecord.com/
Author: Carol Aun

DRUGS: PREVENTION THE KEY TO KICKING DRUG ADDICTION

Prevention is the key to kicking drug addiction, because once you start, 
it's hard to stop.

Leesa learned the hard way.

She was one of half a dozen speakers at a drug prevention forum held in the 
Clarke Theatre last week who shared her story with over 150 people.

Leesa came from a good family, but had low self-esteem. Nothing seemed good 
enough and she felt alienated.

At 12, Leesa tried speed for the first time at a friend's house because she 
thought it was cool.

At age 13, she began using pot. When she was high, all her bad feelings 
went away. But once the high was over, the feelings returned.

Leesa's solution was to get high again. Leesa was later sexually assaulted 
by her grandfather and raped by a stranger.

She didn't know how to deal with her feelings, so she turned to what 
brought her temporary relief: drugs.

Leesa's life was going downhill.

She started stealing to support her habit and was kicked out of her 
parent's house several times.

Leesa started using crack cocaine and heroin because she didn't think she'd 
get hooked. She was wrong. She wasn't getting high to feel good, she was 
getting high to not feel bad.

Then one day, as Leesa was about to get high again, she had a clear 
thought: she wanted to put an end to her drug use. That was last August and 
she has been drug-free since.

Leesa was fortunate she realized she wanted to get out before it was too 
late, but her story is not unique.

Jade, another speaker at the forum, shared his story of addiction and the 
aftereffects of a drug overdose that left him a quadriplegic.

In some instances, drug users never get cleaned up and even die from their 
habit.

Fraser House and the Mission Indian Friendship Centre sponsored the event 
to raise awareness and provide information to prevent drug use.

"Mission is like any other city not free of drugs and alcohol problems," 
said forum organizer Georgina Mitchell. "People are dying from drug overdoses.

But not everyone that ODs dies. There is a lot of drug use going on and it 
affects people's lives in a negative way."

For those who want help or some counselling, Fraser House, Miracle Valley, 
Lydia House and the Indian Friendship  Centre are some of the places in 
Mission to get in touch with.

"I do see the shame in getting help," said Mitchell. "But it's free and 
confidential. We're not into shaming people. There is a way out."

The centres will accept clients the way they are without passing judgement.

Mitchell recognizes there is not a lot of resources for youths and a 
residential treatment waiting list in the Lower Mainland is six months long.

"Prevention is the best way," said Mitchell. "If you can prevent it, you 
don't have to go through the heartache later."
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