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. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens