Pubdate: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 Source: Caledonia Courier (CN BC) Copyright: 2008 Fort Saint James Courier Contact: http://www.caledoniacourier.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3189 Author: Raymond J. Bertrand Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) THE REVOLVING DOOR $ OF ADDICTION TREATMENT Money talks! BS walks! The city of Victoria has now set up a new Detox system for walk in clients. The current system does not work. There are 7 Detox beds in Victoria for 1,000 estimated addicted people. How ludicrous. These walk in beds may help some of the working class addicts however they will do absolutely nothing to help the seriously addicted and mentally ill homeless people plaguing the community. People complain about the individuals using and abusing licit and illicit substances, behaving in an uncivilized manner such as stealing, drinking and shooting up in doorways and on park benches and urinating in public places. The reality of the situation is that the closest adult withdrawal unit (Detox) is in Prince George and it is the only detox centre north of Kamloops and Kelowna. Detox is not a jail. People can refer themselves to this facility voluntarily provided there are beds available. The length of stay can vary from a few days (for someone coming down from severe alcoholism) to a few weeks (for those battling benzodiazepines or opiate issues). The challenge begins with a lack of available beds for those who require them. The complexity of the issues is compounded when someone leaves the safe haven of Detox to return to their communities and families. They are welcomed with open arms and often offered a beer, a line of coke, or some pills which they have just fought so hard to overcome. Detox is a band-aid it is not a cure. Addiction is a multi-faceted problem affecting the individual, the family unit, the community and the government. To have any hope of dealing with this situation, all parties must work together. It is extremely difficult for someone going to a detoxification unit to return to their family where everyone is drinking. It is quasi-impossible for someone to enter a treatment facility if they do not have the monies to do so. And then, there are 12 step groups in some communities. These programs foster a dependency. Recovery Guru, Melody Beattie writes; "If you used to go to meetings but stopped going, go back. If you start going, go for the rest of your life. Alcoholism is a lifetime illness that requires a lifetime of treatment. Our codependent characteristics become habits and may be tendencies we lean toward for the rest of our lives". What she is alluding to heralding forced dependency for the rest of your life, not recovery. All participants of such groups get the message that if they stop attending meetings, that relapse is inevitable. This then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy for those who buy into it. I have worked with many individuals who never attended a self-help group in their lives and now live a happy drug and alcohol free life. I have worked with others who attend these groups and decided it wasn't for them, however, they chose to not go out and get drunk any more. Behavioural change is possible without 12 step groups. The operating word is "choice". College and university "yahoos!" partied til' they puked while attending these institutions. One day they graduated, looked at themselves in the mirror and said; "I don't want to do this anymore; it will not allow me to get to where I want to go". So, overnight, they gave up their debauchery and libertine lifestyle and went on to becoming business leaders, politicians and productive members of society. They made a choice. Society must also make a choice when it comes to assisting those who are, for the moment, incapable of choosing for themselves. We must make detoxification beds available to them. We must make housing available and have safety nets in place for them. We must offer our support to those who require it by ensuring treatment facilities are open to everyone, rich or poor. We must support the people when they leave treatment and realize they too can become productive members of society. We must look at the story behind the story. No one woke up one day and decided they wanted to spend a lifetime enslaved to addictions. When we help others, we ultimately help ourselves and our communities. Recovery is about getting better; it is about recovering what we once had; and if we have nothing to recover to, it is about forging ahead and making the life we choose. Doing any less than this is to stagnate. Help yourself and help others today. I know you can do it. You may contact me at (888) 613-2667, mailing address: PO Box 1150, Fort St. James, BC V0J 1P0 or email me at Counselling services in Fort St. James are: . Fort Alcohol & Drug Services 250-996-8411 . Nechako Valley Community Services 250-996-7645 . Nak'azdli Health Centre 250-996-7400 . Tl'azt'en Nation Health Centre 250-648-3350 . Adventures in Recovery Counselling (866) 613-2667. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin