DRUGS: PREVENTION THE KEY TO KICKING DRUG ADDICTION

Prevention is the key to kicking drug addiction, because once you start,
it's hard to stop.

Leesa learned the hard way.

She was one of half a dozen speakers at a drug prevention forum held in the
Clarke Theatre last week who shared her story with over 150 people.

Leesa came from a good family, but had low self-esteem. Nothing seemed good
enough and she felt alienated.

At 12, Leesa tried speed for the first time at a friend's house because she
thought it was cool.

At age 13, she began using pot. When she was high, all her bad feelings
went away. But once the high was over, the feelings returned.

Leesa's solution was to get high again. Leesa was later sexually assaulted
by her grandfather and raped by a stranger.

She didn't know how to deal with her feelings, so she turned to what
brought her temporary relief: drugs.

Leesa's life was going downhill.

She started stealing to support her habit and was kicked out of her
parent's house several times.

Leesa started using crack cocaine and heroin because she didn't think she'd
get hooked. She was wrong. She wasn't getting high to feel good, she was
getting high to not feel bad.

Then one day, as Leesa was about to get high again, she had a clear
thought: she wanted to put an end to her drug use. That was last August and
she has been drug-free since.

Leesa was fortunate she realized she wanted to get out before it was too
late, but her story is not unique.

Jade, another speaker at the forum, shared his story of addiction and the
aftereffects of a drug overdose that left him a quadriplegic.

In some instances, drug users never get cleaned up and even die from their
habit.

Fraser House and the Mission Indian Friendship Centre sponsored the event
to raise awareness and provide information to prevent drug use.

"Mission is like any other city not free of drugs and alcohol problems,"
said forum organizer Georgina Mitchell. "People are dying from drug overdoses.

But not everyone that ODs dies. There is a lot of drug use going on and it
affects people's lives in a negative way."

For those who want help or some counselling, Fraser House, Miracle Valley,
Lydia House and the Indian Friendship Centre are some of the places in
Mission to get in touch with.

"I do see the shame in getting help," said Mitchell. "But it's free and
confidential. We're not into shaming people. There is a way out."

The centres will accept clients the way they are without passing judgement.

Mitchell recognizes there is not a lot of resources for youths and a
residential treatment waiting list in the Lower Mainland is six months long.

"Prevention is the best way," said Mitchell. "If you can prevent it, you
don't have to go through the heartache later."