AADAC WALKS IN AWARENESS OF ADDICTION

Make a difference together.

The theme for National Addictions Awareness Week, Nov. 20 to 26, is
not new, but the need for communities to come together to help combat
drugs and alcohol is still needed.

To increase awareness of addictions in Wetaskiwin, the Alberta Alcohol
and Drug Abuse Commission is hosting a sober walk, Nov. 23 at noon.

"We are meeting at the Centre on the Park and we will walk along Main
Street east to the provincial building where we will host a
reception," said area supervisor for the AADAC Wetaskiwin office, Pat
Kelley.

"This is a walk for sobriety -- something our community has deemed as
a good awareness activity."

And community residents are welcome to walk as well, showing support
in making Wetaskaskiwin a cleaner, more sober community.

"Hobbema has had a sober walk for a long time and we just started in
the past few years," noted Kelley, commenting that Hobbema walkers
have joined Wetaskiwin and vice-versa in past years. "This is a show
of support that addictions is a community issue and we all need to
come together to fix it."

Originally called Drug Awareness Week, started in 1980 in Nova Scotia,
became National Addictions Awareness Week in 1987 after lobbying from
aboriginal communities across Canada.

In 1994, the scope of the week was extended to include problem
gambling. It was extended again in 2002 to include problem gambling.

In 2004, 79.5 per cent of Albertans 15 years or older were current
drinkers. Per capita consumption has increased from 8.6 liters in 1990
to 9.8 litres in 2004.

According to 2003 Alberta police collision reports, 22.3 per cent of
drivers in fatal crashes had consumed alcohol or were impaired. An
estimated 47,500 Canadians died in 1998 from smoking-related diseases.

A 2002 survey of students from grades 7 to 12 found 41 per cent
participated in one or more gambling activities and 9.5 per cent of
students were gambling at levels considered hazardous or
problematic.

The goal of week is to provide information and promote activities
which generate awareness of substance and gambling.

The theme of Making a Difference Together emphasizes the importance of
a whole community working together to prevent alcohol, tobacco, other
drug and gambling problems.

"We're bringing agencies together, bringing the public together with
the agencies -- all to show we don't want this in our community,"
emphasized Kelley.

"This shows we can make a difference in our community if we're joining
hands and working together."