Pubdate: Wed, 08 Oct 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

ADDICTIONS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Dr. Gabor Mate, the well respected specialist on ADHD (Attention 
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is once again making headlines. He 
has authored "Scattered Minds", "When The Body Says No", "Hold On To 
Your Kids", and "In The Realm Of Hungry Ghosts". Dr. Mate has 
dedicated over ten years of his life working as the staff physician 
at the Portland Hotel on Vancouver's downtown eastside. This hotel 
has become infamous as a harm reduction facility.

Dr. Mate is of the opinion that whether or not you will become 
addicted to substances or process addictions later in life is more or 
less determined in your first three years on earth. He claims that a 
bad early childhood will in turn disrupt the brain's chemicals. The 
regulators of pain and pleasure concepts as well as lack of pleasure 
and difficulty finding motivation are directly associated with these 
chemicals (dopamine and endorphins).

What about those individuals who did not have a bad early childhood? 
Many became addicted as well. I definitely agree with my esteemed 
colleague that having a bad early childhood would definitely be a 
contributing factor leading someone into a dysfunctional lifestyle. 
Addiction is not prejudiced.

It matters not if one is rich or poor, Asian, Caucasian, African 
American, First Nations, smart or stupid. Addiction has no 
boundaries. No one is immune. If a person's parents are addicted, 
living in poverty, promiscuous and live a criminogenic lifestyle, the 
child's chances of not being addicted are slim to none.

Where I draw the line is the theory that "once an addict, always an 
addict". I have worked with many people who have completely changed 
their lives around because they made a decision. They made a decision 
that they no longer wanted to destroy their lives and the lives of 
others around them.

They decided they would do whatever it takes to regain their dignity. 
They decided to reach out and grab the hands of those willing to 
offer help. They did face challenges.

Help was not always there. The hardest part of this journey was 
deciding they wanted to better themselves. Sure, their self-esteem 
was down. Some had criminal records.

Some had lost everything. When they made a decision to better 
themselves they decided having parents who were addicted, having been 
sexually abused as a child, raped as an adult, losing everything in 
life, having gone to jail, etc. was not going to interfere with their 
desire to change their lives.

Brian Tracy wrote a book titled, "Change Your Thinking, Change Your 
Life". Anyone can change. Not everyone will embark on a life of total 
abstinence.

If someone changes just one thing in their life for the better, they 
in turn will benefit. and others will also reap the rewards. Tracy 
talks of seeking a mentor.I believe this to be crucial. If you want 
to be a carpenter, it makes sense that you find the best carpenter 
you can and ask questions and learn from the person. If you want to 
learn how to swim, you will associate with people who can swim. It is 
difficult to achieve a sober lifestyle if you are hanging out with a 
bunch of people who drink and drug constantly. If you want to stay 
away from drugs and alcohol you must choose friends who don't drink 
and use drugs.

Giving away needles and crack pipes, opening bars to later hours and 
condoning the destructive behaviours of the addicted does not help anyone.

The most important aspect of any harm reduction program is to first 
of all ensure that "we do no harm". We must be empathetic to those 
requiring our help but we must ensure we are not enabling. To learn 
more, you may contact the numbers listed below.

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 996-8411

. Nechako Valley Community Services 996-7645

. Nak'azdli Health Centre 996-7400

. Tl'azt'en Nation Health Centre 648-3350

. Adventures in Recovery Counselling (888) 613-2667
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom