THE REVOLVING DOOR $ OF ADDICTION TREATMENT

Money talks! BS walks! The city of Victoria has now set up a new Detox
system for walk in clients. The current system does not work. There
are 7 Detox beds in Victoria for 1,000 estimated addicted people. How
ludicrous.

These walk in beds may help some of the working class addicts however
they will do absolutely nothing to help the seriously addicted and
mentally ill homeless people plaguing the community.

People complain about the individuals using and abusing licit and
illicit substances, behaving in an uncivilized manner such as
stealing, drinking and shooting up in doorways and on park benches and
urinating in public places. The reality of the situation is that the
closest adult withdrawal unit (Detox) is in Prince George and it is
the only detox centre north of Kamloops and Kelowna. Detox is not a
jail. People can refer themselves to this facility voluntarily
provided there are beds available. The length of stay can vary from a
few days (for someone coming down from severe alcoholism) to a few
weeks (for those battling benzodiazepines or opiate issues).

The challenge begins with a lack of available beds for those who
require them. The complexity of the issues is compounded when someone
leaves the safe haven of Detox to return to their communities and
families. They are welcomed with open arms and often offered a beer, a
line of coke, or some pills which they have just fought so hard to
overcome. Detox is a band-aid it is not a cure. Addiction is a
multi-faceted problem affecting the individual, the family unit, the
community and the government. To have any hope of dealing with this
situation, all parties must work together. It is extremely difficult
for someone going to a detoxification unit to return to their family
where everyone is drinking. It is quasi-impossible for someone to
enter a treatment facility if they do not have the monies to do so.
And then, there are 12 step groups in some communities. These programs
foster a dependency.

Recovery Guru, Melody Beattie writes; "If you used to go to meetings
but stopped going, go back. If you start going, go for the rest of
your life.

Alcoholism is a lifetime illness that requires a lifetime of
treatment.

Our codependent characteristics become habits and may be tendencies we
lean toward for the rest of our lives". What she is alluding to
heralding forced dependency for the rest of your life, not recovery.
All participants of such groups get the message that if they stop
attending meetings, that relapse is inevitable. This then becomes a
self-fulfilling prophecy for those who buy into it. I have worked with
many individuals who never attended a self-help group in their lives
and now live a happy drug and alcohol free life. I have worked with
others who attend these groups and decided it wasn't for them,
however, they chose to not go out and get drunk any more.

Behavioural change is possible without 12 step groups. The operating
word is "choice".

College and university "yahoos!" partied til' they puked while
attending these institutions. One day they graduated, looked at
themselves in the mirror and said; "I don't want to do this anymore;
it will not allow me to get to where I want to go". So, overnight,
they gave up their debauchery and libertine lifestyle and went on to
becoming business leaders, politicians and productive members of
society. They made a choice. Society must also make a choice when it
comes to assisting those who are, for the moment, incapable of
choosing for themselves. We must make detoxification beds available to
them. We must make housing available and have safety nets in place for
them. We must offer our support to those who require it by ensuring
treatment facilities are open to everyone, rich or poor. We must
support the people when they leave treatment and realize they too can
become productive members of society. We must look at the story behind
the story. No one woke up one day and decided they wanted to spend a
lifetime enslaved to addictions.

When we help others, we ultimately help ourselves and our communities.
Recovery is about getting better; it is about recovering what we once
had; and if we have nothing to recover to, it is about forging ahead
and making the life we choose. Doing any less than this is to stagnate.

Help yourself and help others today. I know you can do
it.

You may contact me at (888) 613-2667, mailing address: PO Box 1150,
Fort St. James, BC V0J 1P0 or email me at adventuresinrecovery@yahoo.com.

Counselling services in Fort St. James are:

. Fort Alcohol & Drug Services 250-996-8411

. Nechako Valley Community Services 250-996-7645

. Nak'azdli Health Centre 250-996-7400

. Tl'azt'en Nation Health Centre 250-648-3350

. Adventures in Recovery Counselling (866) 613-2667.