Pubdate: Mon, 24 Nov 2014
Source: Telegram, The (CN NF)
Copyright: 2014 The Telegram
Contact:  http://www.thetelegram.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/303
Author: Steve Bartlett
Page: A1
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

FOR ADDICTS TRYING TO GET HELP, THE WAITING CAN BE THE HARDEST PART

Derek Montague could have ruined himself. In the three months he's 
been waiting for gambling addiction treatment, he could have dug a 
financial hole of which there'd be no way out.

"In that span of time, I've done more damage to myself," he admits.

"I've gambled during that period of time."

Full disclosure: Derek works with TC Media and reports indirectly to 
me. He's a fine journalist with The Labradorian newspaper in Happy 
Valley-Goose Bay.

His addiction ignited at a Montreal casino almost four years ago, a 
few months after a best friend died accidentally.

The 27-year-old also suffers from depression.

In August, he felt the increasing weight of his gambling and 
depression was shutting off the outside world.

Derek worried about how deep he might sink.

"I knew that if I didn't do something, I would eventually commit 
suicide," he wrote in a September essay.

He saw a psychiatrist and got on the waiting list for the province's 
only adult treatment facility, the Humberwood Centre in Corner Brook.

He was told the wait was six-to eight-weeks.

By the time he checks in Nov. 30, about 12 weeks will have passed, 80 
or so days where he's constantly faced the urge to gamble.

It's a craving as powerful as the urge to eat, he says, and, "I've 
been trying my best to hang on."

He hasn't been perfect, but he's managed to reduce his gambling 
activity by cancelling his credit card.

If he still had one, he figures his debt would be insurmountable.

Derek is not sharing his story to jump the queue or benefit in anyway.

He's got a spot in the program and can't wait for Humberwood help.

He's speaking out about his excruciating wait to draw attention to 
the toll and risks such periods of limbo can have on an adult addict, 
whether the addiction is gambling, booze or drugs.

There's the obvious chance of further damage to themselves, their 
family or their finances.

But, as Derek notes, the long wait also gives addicts time to back out.

"The longer someone is on the waiting list, the more time you're 
giving them to do those justification loops in their head, to the 
point where they say, 'I don't need help,' " he says.

If someone says they want to go in rehab, Derek pleads, get them in 
right away. He's absolutely right. If someone musters up the courage 
to get help, we've got to get them in and start treating their disease.

A second adult addictions treatment centre is expected to open 
Harbour Grace next spring.

That will reduce wait times, but something more powerful is needed.

There must be a commitment from those in power that no addict will 
ever wait 12 weeks for treatment and run the risk of ruination.

That's definitely not worth the gamble.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom