Pubdate: Tue, 13 Mar 2007
Source: Nanaimo News Bulletin (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007, BC Newspaper Group
Contact:  http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/948
Author: Toby Gormannanaimo, News Bulletin, Nanaimo
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Safe Injecting Rooms)

FORUM TACKLES ADDICTION ISSUES

Nursing students from Malaspina University-College will  hold a public
forum to discuss social issues  surrounding drug and alcohol addiction.

Based out of the bachelor of science nursing program,  Faces of
Addiction is a student group dedicated to  increasing community
awareness about addiction issues  and increasing services available
for living with  addictions.

"It's an interactive forum designed to encourage  communication
between the public and addiction  specialists and members of
government," said Sarah  Davis, a fourth-year nursing student at MalU.

"We want to develop tangible solutions that will  primarily emerge
from discussions about addiction."

The forum, which is free of charge, takes place  Saturday March 17
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the theatre  in Building 310 at Malaspina.

Topics will include injectable drugs and alcoholism,  and anything
else members of the public wish to address  relating to addiction.

The panel will include health specialists and different  levels of
government and discussion period will take  place from 2 to 4 p.m. The
morning session will feature  several guest speakers.

"Our group members and the panel participants have some  really good
information to share about addictions and  we want to get the word out
in our forum," said Davis.

Recently, members of Faces of Addiction visited the  safe injection
site in Vancouver to learn more about  addiction, and have developed a
poster campaign and  have also made care packages to hand out at
Nanaimo's  Living Room, a drop-in centre, to raise addiction  awareness.
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MAP posted-by: Derek