Pubdate: Sun, 23 Mar 2003
Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 Nanaimo Daily News
Contact:  http://canada.com/nanaimo/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608
Author: Valerie Wilson

ADDICTION EXPERTS ANSWER QUESTIONS

Nanaimo Forum Gives Public A Chance To Learn More About Chronic Disease

A forum presented by the Nanaimo Alcohol and Drug Action Committee at Beban 
Park Tuesday gave more than 100 people in attendance the opportunity to put 
forward questions anonymously to a panel of experts.

Panelists included Dr. Paddy Mark, a family physician who has a held a 
methadone license since 1986, and a member of the B.C. College of 
Physicians and Surgeons Opiate Addiction Committee, Inspector Jeff Lott, 
acting commanding officer at the city RCMP detachment, Bob Haubrich, 
manager of access and acute mental health and addiction services with the 
Vancouver Island Health Authority, Gord Cote, head of Nanaimo Area Resource 
Service for Families, Dana Young, manager of programs for the John Howard 
Society at Nanaimo Correctional Centre, Carol Savage, an adult addictions 
services coordinator in Nanaimo for the health authority, Ethel Gremonprez, 
a front-line addictions counselor for Tillicum Haus and Rob Grant, 
executive director at ADAPT.

Following are some of the questions put to the panel by participants, and 
the answers received:

Q.  What is an addict? Who is an addict? How do I become an addict?

A:  "It is a disease," said Dr. Paddy Mark. "The majority of addicts have 
terrible life experiences."

She said other people experience the same life experiences but don't become 
addicts. Often, she said, addiction is the result of a genetically, 
pre-determined link.

Mark also said most addicts don't choose to quit their addiction. Instead, 
they take action to address it when they hit rock bottom.

"An addict can't just stop," she said. "Just say no' doesn't work."

Carol Savage added her thoughts on the question, defining addict as a 
person who has some proneness to it, an environment that encourages 
addiction and the drug itself.

"I think addicts decide everyday to quit," she said. "But it is not just 
that easy."

Q  If I stop using, am I not an addict anymore?

A  Bob Haubrich said he isn't sure if there is a scientific answer to that 
question.

"There are chemical changes in the brain when you become addicted to a 
substance," he said.

Haubrich also said once those chemical changes take place, it may be more 
difficult for an addict who goes through detox to stay clean.

Q  Who should be involved in community-based programs? Should the Vancouver 
Island Health Authority take a major role?

A  Haubrich said he believes VIHA should take a major and key role in 
coordinating major participants in a community-based program. But he also 
said the city and the community must participate.

"I'm not sure the City of Nanaimo and the community of Nanaimo has owned 
its drug problem," he said. "I'm hoping a forum like this will bring them 
to the table.

"In our community, the hospital is often the default because there is 
nowhere in the community that is safe for (addicts) to go (for detox)...."

Haubrich said safe housing is major issue.

"The city needs to get on it," he said.

Q  Recently the RCMP nabbed 19 drunk drivers. From a cost effective point 
of view, wouldn't it benefit the community more to put officers on 
marijuana drug busts out looking for drunk drivers?

A  Insp. Jeff Lott said the RCMP detachment has special section dedicated 
to impaired driving. He also said the RCMP "Green Team" which conducts 
raids on suspected residences that have marijuana grow operations, is 
small, however, they have a lot of work.

But he said the Green Team isn't just about arresting the individuals 
responsible for the grow operation. It also brings together other community 
groups who go into the house to determine hazards for the next family that 
lives there. For example, many have re-rigged wiring that is a fire hazard 
and some have molds growing in them that are health hazards, to name a few.

"It is just a plethora of problems," Lott said.

Q  Why are there drugs in jail?

A  "(Inmates) are going to find a way to consume their substance no matter 
what security we have in place, they will find a way to get their 
substance," said Dana Young.

Earlier in the forum, Young had told participants that at the Nanaimo 
Correctional Centre, approximately 90 per cent of inmates have a substance 
abuse issue. At the centre, she operates drug and alcohol programs for 
inmates in an effort to help them make the choice to get clean and abstain 
from drug and alcohol use. Inmates are also offered bleach to clean 
needles, a substance abuse management program and a methadone program.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens