NEW EFFORTS AIM TO FIGHT ADDICTION

Addictions issues are about to get more attention in
Nanaimo.

The Nanaimo Addiction Foundation recently received more than $300,000
to give to agencies providing addictions services in the community. It
plans to become a long-term, grant-distributing organization working
to raise money and awareness in the community.

"I think it's needed in Nanaimo," said president France Tellier.
"Most agencies don't have fundraising abilities."

The foundation formed in 2006 on the recommendation of the Nanaimo
Alcohol and Drug Action Coalition - a group made up of government
representatives and service providers. It became a registered charity
in 2007, but without seed money, the organization could not do much in
its early years, said Tellier.

The foundation will now do two things each year - it will organize
some sort of an education project and distribute money to agencies
delivering addictions services.

To ensure the sustainability of the group, the funds distributed were
set at $30,000 per year for the next five years, but Tellier said the
board plans to try to raise matching funds every year.

The first awareness event - an education forum on youth addiction
issues - is scheduled for Feb. 23.

John Horn, the city's social planner and a member of the committee
formed to decide how the money is spent, said the grants will fund
projects that respond to immediate needs in the community, but are not
necessarily the "oetested and true" initiatives that would receive
government funding.

The foundation can choose to fund initiatives that try out new and
innovative ways of dealing with addiction issues, he said.

"We're trying to tap into the creativity of the community," said
Horn.

The seed money - $303,577 - comes from the ADAPT Society, a
volunteer organization that helped young people with substance abuse
issues until it dissolved in 2008. The money went to the foundation
because when a non-profit dissolves, it must give whatever money
remains in its coffers to a like-minded charity.

The foundation launches its first funding allocation schedule on
Thursday (Nov. 25) at 7 p.m. at the Nanaimo Golf Club and the public
is invited.

Geri Sera, executive director, said this year's money will be given
to programs supporting youth aged 12-18.

The foundation is asking agencies from Parksville to Lady-smith to
present ideas for projects and the money will be handed out next spring.

"We're waiting for the proposals from agencies to identify for us
what is a priority," said Sera.

Service providers in Nanaimo agree more funds for youth addiction
programs are needed.

Carrie Morris, program coordinator for Discovery Youth and Family
Substance Use Services, is working with the foundation to organize the
February education forum.

Discovery provides counselling to youth and their families
experiencing substance abuse issues and works with Nanaimo high
schools on education initiatives.

The program is well used in Nanaimo, she said. Last year, Discovery
fielded 375 new requests for service, people counsellors were already
seeing on an ongoing basis.

The money the foundation plans to hand out this year might best be
spent on programs on the prevention side of the issue, said Steve
Arnett, executive director of the Nanaimo Youth Services
Association.

The association provides youth with employment, housing, supported
living and drop-in services and touches on substance use issues
through its healthy living education.

But Arnett believes some still don't grasp the reasons behind abuse
and the impacts.

"For every 10 people who walk through our door, at least one is
struggling with substance misuse and real active addiction," he said.

Arnett is considering applying for a grant to start a peer mentoring
and education program.

Youth don't like to be lectured, he said, so a peers-helping-peers
model might be more effective at getting the message across.

More safe, affordable housing for youth is needed, said Horn, but the
grant money available is not enough to support housing projects.

The most effective solution is to prevent the abuse from occurring in
the first place, he added.

For more information, please go to www.nanaimoaddictionfoundation.org