COMBATING ADDICTION

Wellness Subcommittee Offering Full Schedule Of Events Next Week

Addictions Awareness Week is just around the corner and the planning
committee has some wonderful events set up for this year.

Sandy Penney, Addictions Services coordinator, explained Addictions
Awareness Week is from Nov. 19-25 and is a national event designed to
raise awareness around alcohol, other drug use and gambling.

It also points out the positive aspects of making healthy life choices.

"We're going to bring it right back to focusing on alcohol this
year," Ms. Penney said. "Alcohol is still the No. 1 drug of choice
among young teens and adults. Alcohol is the drug of choice that we
see the most referrals for here at Addictions Services and we can't
lose sight of that."

The counsellor said when most people think of drug addiction they
think of OxyContin, ecstasy, and crystal meth, but the fact is less
people are abusing those drugs; alcohol is the most common drug of choice.

Ms. Penney said the planning committee will still talk about the
other drugs during Addictions Awareness Week, but she feels it's
important to shine a bright light on alcohol addiction.

"A lot of people don't realize the fact alcohol is even a drug," she
stated. "It's no different than cannabis, it's no different than
cocaine. One can still become addicted to it, it's just alcohol is
more widely accepted in our community and in our province."

She said anyone can become addicted to alcohol or any other drug and
she feels the best way to fight addiction is to stop it before it starts.

That's why Addictions Awareness Week will focus a lot on the schools, she said.

"This year Addictions Awareness Week is falling under the umbrella of
the local Wellness Coalition group," Ms. Penney explained. "We have
struck a subcommittee for Addictions Awareness Week under wellness
and we various members involved including Community Based Policing,
Mother's Against Drunk Driving and Mental Health."

Ms. Penney noted there will be Addictions Awareness displays at all
the Labrador West Schools and various presentations will be held at
A.P. Low, J.R. Smallwood and Menihek High School.

The counselor is particularly excited about an initiative slated for
J.R.S. that MADD is sponsoring, which will have students designing
liquor store bags depicting the dangers of drinking and driving.

The local Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation will
distribute the bags to patrons during Addictions Awareness Week.

"They're going to be locally designed and locally distributed," she
said. "It's a really, really exciting activity."

Cindy Soper, a clerk at Addictions Services, designed a placemat for
Addictions Awareness Week that will be passed out to 14 different
restaurants in Labrador West.

Ms. Penney explained there will also be various community activities
during the week including a seniors' tea, a family skate, a quit
smoking action group, a family bonfire, and a pool tournament at the
Labrador West Young People's Association.

She hopes all the planned activities will help raise awareness of
alcohol addiction and encourages all residents to take part in the activities.

"I truly believe education prevention awareness are the only line of
defense we have against addiction," she stated emphatically. "Without
education prevention initiatives I really don't know how big the
problem would be. And I also believe the earlier we start getting the
message out, the better chance we have of the children having the
right information, so they can make healthier choices."