Pubdate: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 Source: Cambridge Reporter, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2002 The Cambridge Reporter Contact: http://www.cambridge-reporter.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1470 Author: Clyde Warrington ADDICTION CENTRE GETS TRAINING GRANT Officials for a local agency charged with battling substance abuse hope a record $249,345 grant heralds a new awareness of the scope of Canada's addiction problems. The money, from Human Resources Development Canada, was presented earlier this week. "I'm shocked at hearing the extent of the human cost involved," said Cambridge MP Janko Peric following a press conference at the headquarters of the Drug and Alcohol Recovery Association on Cowansview Road. The association, a charitable agency that operates on behalf of organizations that treat addictions, will use the money to establish a Web-based drug counselling certification program to train professionals throughout the country. "The impact from this funding will be huge," said Jeff Wilbee, executive director of the association. "We'll now be able to reach thousands of clients in a more effective way." Association president Micheal Dean said he hopes the development of Web-based instructional tools is only the beginning of Internet solutions to a problem that affects as many as 15 per cent of Canadian adults. Dean and Wilbee "share a dream" that people seeking help for substance abuse problems will be able to log onto an Internet site anonymously and retrieve advice on how to deal with their problem. Anonymity is crucial, Dean said, because of the stigma attached to admitting a drug or alcohol problem. Doctors, for instance, are liable to conceal substance problems because the admission could ruin their career. It's unknown the cost of substance abuse to society, but a 1996 industrial survey suggests the Canadian workplace lost $5 billion in productivity due to illnesses, accidents, mistakes and inefficiency linked to drugs and alcohol, according to association board member Dave MacIntyre, a union representative for the Canadian Auto Workers in St. Thomas, Ont. But those costs are the tip of the iceberg, said Wilbee, noting the number of criminal acts committed by abusers whose judgment was challenged or who broke the law to provide for their habit. While the Human Resources Development Canada grant will better prepare professionals to treat addiction problems, Wilbee said addiction can only be beaten if there are enough qualified professionals to turn to the moment an addict opts to seek help. "Early intervention is key," he said. "Treatment is so much more successful when we reach people before they hit skid row. It's much easier to bring somebody back if he's got a wife, a family, a home." - --- MAP posted-by: Alex