COMMUNITY NEEDS TO HELP YOUTH BE ADDICTION AWARE

Last week was Addictions Awareness Week in Saskatchewan. The
Government of Saskatchewan website states that, "Saskatchewan
Addictions Awareness Week offers a chance for communities to play a
role in addressing alcohol and drug use, and gambling addiction".

Like many other designated awareness weeks throughout the year, this
one is very important. It addresses issues that people don't often
talk about freely, but that are immense problems in many communities.

In Meadow Lake there were several activities planned for Addictions
Awareness Week, although they were mainly planned through local schools.

It is very important for young people to get a sense that addictions
can change your life and the lives of the people you love. They need
to be aware that just because it is not talked about a lot does not
mean it does not happen, and that addictions are very serious in any form.

It is great that the schools and school groups like Students Against
Drunk Driving are working hard, especially during this week, to bring
awareness to addictions. But what about the community? The Government
of Saskatchewan says that this week was an opportunity for
communities to play a role in addressing addictions, not just
schools. If there were any activities, information sessions or events
planned within the community, they were not advertised well.

This is the time of year when MADD begins to hold checkstops to give
out red ribbons to raise awareness about drinking and driving. It is
about the only thing that does draw attention to problems like that
in the community. We have to remember that alcohol is not the only
addiction out there though. Awareness should be raised about all
types of addictions.

Scott Gallagher, a motivational speaker who has gone through pretty
much every addiction you can think of, spoke at Jonas Samson Junior
High last Monday. He emphasized the fact that addictions come in many
forms. Yes, drugs like marijuana and cocaine are terrible addictions
to have, but even smaller addictions to sugar or the Internet can
wreak havoc on someone's life.

People need to be aware that there are people with problems in every
community, people dealing with addictions to things that are bad for
them and that hurt the people around them. And the community has a
responsibility to help those people, not just the ones doing drugs and alcohol.

Addictions Awareness Week has come and gone, and while the students
of Meadow Lake know a little more about how addictions can negatively
impact your life, but unfortunately the rest of the community will
have to wait until next year to find out.