NEW YOUTH ADDICTIONS COUNSELLOR HIRED TO SERVE NAKUSP & AREA

Faith Louis-Adams has been hired as the new Youth Addictions
Counsellor for Nakusp & Area, including New Denver.

She is employed by Freedom Quest, a regional youth services provider,
and is based in an office in the Arrow & Slocan Lakes Community
Services building in Nakusp.

Her services and the programs provided by Freedom Quest are available
to young people aged 19 and under who are experiencing or have been
impacted in their lives by addictions issues or have difficulties in
their lives due to alcohol and/or drug abuse or misuse and who what
to make change in their lives.

"I'm here to support youth who feel they need assistance with some of
the decisions they're making around drug use and alcohol use," said
Louis-Adams. "A holistic approach is used in the treatment and
support of each person, which encompasses the physical, emotional,
the mind, the behavioural and the spiritual. Each individual is
involved in the development of their own treatment plan and support
is offered through individual counselling and/or in groups. The plan
may include referrals by me to other community agencies or to other
programs offered by Freedom Quest," she said.

Adams says that parents can be included in the process. "We also try
to involve the parents as much as possible." She says that parents
are not automatically contacted if youth contact her with addictions
issues. Adams says this is because Freedom Quest does not want to
deter youth from accessing the services they offer because they fear
their parents will be automatically informed.

One of the contact programs Adams has been offering is a drop-in Art
Group in January and February. The program runs from 7-9 p.m. at
Arrow & Slocan Lakes Community Services at 205-6th Ave. in Nakusp.
The first session ended on Feb. 5, and will resume again on Feb. 19,
possibly at a new location.

She says that her philosophy is to give clients respect and to focus
on their needs and respect and listen to their experiences.

Some of the community services she can refer clients to include
individual and group counselling, temporary housing, detox services,
risk reduction programs, relapse prevention, goal setting programs,
medical services, mental health services, conflict resolution and
many other programs and services. "The program is geared to what each
individual needs," she said.

Adams contract with Freedom Quest is for 13 hours per week. She can
be contacted through Arrow & Slocan Lakes Community Services at
265-3674. If she is not in, you can leave a message on her answering
service, which she checks daily.