IV DRUG USE INCREASING, AADAC STATISTICS REVEAL

Intravenous Drug Use Is On The Rise Among Grande Prairie Area Drug Users

Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission statistics show the number of
people trying intravenous drugs for the first time has increased
significantly more than first time use of any other type of drug. Of the
1,816 people checking in to the Northern Addictions Centre detox program in
1998/99, 22.6 per cent of them reported first-time use of injection drugs,
up from 1997/98's 14.8 per cent. The 7.8 per cent increase is trailed by a
1.2 per cent increase in cocaine use and a 0.7 per cent increase in alcohol
use. Alcohol remains the most commonly used drug, with a full 74 per cent
of detox patients reporting use of the drug. Cocaine use is reported by 11
per cent of detox patients in 1998/99.

Registered nurse and AADAC health services unit supervisor Carole Peterson
suggests the increase in intravenous drug use reflects a greater
availability of a wider range of drugs.

"It used to be smoking and drinking was the worst stuff (young people)
could get into," Peterson said.

"(Today), there is more stuff out there... the bar has been raised - supply
and demand. The shopping centre has a lot more (inventory)," she said.

Statistics for outpatient trends, too, show a marked increase in new
intravenous drug use.

However, the 7.1 per cent increase - from 13 to 20.1 per cent of
outpatients - in the last two years is more closely followed by a 4.2 per
cent increase in problem alcohol use.

AADAC's business and industry four-week employee treatment program was
attended by 144 people in 1998/99 and 147 people in 1997/98. Among this
group, 12.5 per cent of people reported using cocaine, marking a 7.1 per
cent increase in the number of people who reported cocaine use the previous
year.

Intravenous drugs were used by 8.3 per cent of that group in 1998/99 - a
5.3 per cent increase from the previous year. Alcohol use was reported by
nearly 80 per cent of people in those groups in both years.

It seems likely alcohol is the most widely used drug because it is legal
and the most available, says AADAC detox treatment and administration
services manager Kathy Landry.

"It is seen as a socially acceptable drug... (and) many people tolerate
behaviour associated with alcohol use," Landry said.

However, people with alcohol use problems are "rarely single drug users,"
Peterson said.

There are a range of reasons people may become motivated to seek treatment,
Landry says. Either internal factors, like someone realizing they no longer
have a family, job, home or friends because of their drug use or external
factors such as friends, family or employers insisting they seek treatment,
can start a drug addicted individual on the path to recovery.

"Motivation alone, determination that you want to beat this, is one
variable that can cause you to be successful" overcoming drug addiction,
Landry said.

Long-Term Trip

Recovery is a long-term trip that goes beyond just stopping drug usage and
includes learning how to deal with life and relationship challenges
drug-free, she said.

AADAC offers a broad range of treatment, counselling and support services
and the addictions centre is well used.

"Rarely do we have a (program) admission date that doesn't have a full
contingent of clients ready to come to us," Landry said.