DRUG ABUSE COALITION CALLS FOR MORE WORKERS

A Rocky Mountain House coalition would like to more drug addiction
counsellors in the area to help current staff with already heavy workloads.

The West Country Drug Coalition is lobbying for more AADAC services to
come to the area.

"We have someone that comes out from Red Deer once a week and someone
who is contracted with the Friendship Centre," said coalition member
Tracy King. "But we need more here."

"The worker we have now full-time is busy. I think to get an
appointment with her, you have to wait until June or July."

Craig Staniforth, outpatient clinic manager for the Alberta Alcohol
and Drug Abuse Commission in Red Deer, said other communities have
made similar requests for more resources. AADAC tries to match the
level of addiction services to demand.

"I am sympathetic to Rocky, but to other communities as well,"
Staniforth said. "Most other communities don't have an addictions
counsellor through the native friendship centre." AADAC pays for the
addiction counsellor who works out of the Rocky Native Friendship Centre.

Staniforth said that employee is there every day of the
week.

The counsellor doesn't just see aboriginals, but anyone who comes
through the centre doors seeking help.

"Because we don't have enough staff to have permanent offices (in
these smaller communities), people (with addictions) can be seen right
away in Red Deer." Staniforth said.

West Country Drug Coalition was formed about two years ago and
includes a variety of community representatives.

It hosted the Slay the Dragon drug conference on Friday and Saturday.
About 200 people attended to hear speakers who have used drugs and
those who work in drug enforcement.

King, the new Family Community and Support Services manager for the
Town of Rocky, said illegal drug activity isn't an escalating problem
in the Rocky area, but it's important to be vigilant.

"We wanted to be pro-active," she said.