ADDICTION EXPERTS ANSWER QUESTIONS

Nanaimo Forum Gives Public A Chance To Learn More About Chronic Disease

A forum presented by the Nanaimo Alcohol and Drug Action Committee at Beban
Park Tuesday gave more than 100 people in attendance the opportunity to put
forward questions anonymously to a panel of experts.

Panelists included Dr. Paddy Mark, a family physician who has a held a
methadone license since 1986, and a member of the B.C. College of
Physicians and Surgeons Opiate Addiction Committee, Inspector Jeff Lott,
acting commanding officer at the city RCMP detachment, Bob Haubrich,
manager of access and acute mental health and addiction services with the
Vancouver Island Health Authority, Gord Cote, head of Nanaimo Area Resource
Service for Families, Dana Young, manager of programs for the John Howard
Society at Nanaimo Correctional Centre, Carol Savage, an adult addictions
services coordinator in Nanaimo for the health authority, Ethel Gremonprez,
a front-line addictions counselor for Tillicum Haus and Rob Grant,
executive director at ADAPT.

Following are some of the questions put to the panel by participants, and
the answers received:

Q. What is an addict? Who is an addict? How do I become an addict?

A: "It is a disease," said Dr. Paddy Mark. "The majority of addicts have
terrible life experiences."

She said other people experience the same life experiences but don't become
addicts. Often, she said, addiction is the result of a genetically,
pre-determined link.

Mark also said most addicts don't choose to quit their addiction. Instead,
they take action to address it when they hit rock bottom.

"An addict can't just stop," she said. "Just say no' doesn't work."

Carol Savage added her thoughts on the question, defining addict as a
person who has some proneness to it, an environment that encourages
addiction and the drug itself.

"I think addicts decide everyday to quit," she said. "But it is not just
that easy."

Q If I stop using, am I not an addict anymore?

A Bob Haubrich said he isn't sure if there is a scientific answer to that
question.

"There are chemical changes in the brain when you become addicted to a
substance," he said.

Haubrich also said once those chemical changes take place, it may be more
difficult for an addict who goes through detox to stay clean.

Q Who should be involved in community-based programs? Should the Vancouver
Island Health Authority take a major role?

A Haubrich said he believes VIHA should take a major and key role in
coordinating major participants in a community-based program. But he also
said the city and the community must participate.

"I'm not sure the City of Nanaimo and the community of Nanaimo has owned
its drug problem," he said. "I'm hoping a forum like this will bring them
to the table.

"In our community, the hospital is often the default because there is
nowhere in the community that is safe for (addicts) to go (for detox)...."

Haubrich said safe housing is major issue.

"The city needs to get on it," he said.

Q Recently the RCMP nabbed 19 drunk drivers. From a cost effective point
of view, wouldn't it benefit the community more to put officers on
marijuana drug busts out looking for drunk drivers?

A Insp. Jeff Lott said the RCMP detachment has special section dedicated
to impaired driving. He also said the RCMP "Green Team" which conducts
raids on suspected residences that have marijuana grow operations, is
small, however, they have a lot of work.

But he said the Green Team isn't just about arresting the individuals
responsible for the grow operation. It also brings together other community
groups who go into the house to determine hazards for the next family that
lives there. For example, many have re-rigged wiring that is a fire hazard
and some have molds growing in them that are health hazards, to name a few.

"It is just a plethora of problems," Lott said.

Q Why are there drugs in jail?

A "(Inmates) are going to find a way to consume their substance no matter
what security we have in place, they will find a way to get their
substance," said Dana Young.

Earlier in the forum, Young had told participants that at the Nanaimo
Correctional Centre, approximately 90 per cent of inmates have a substance
abuse issue. At the centre, she operates drug and alcohol programs for
inmates in an effort to help them make the choice to get clean and abstain
from drug and alcohol use. Inmates are also offered bleach to clean
needles, a substance abuse management program and a methadone program.