MERRITT IN DESPERATE NEED OF ADDICTIONS COUNSELLOR

People in Merritt who have addictions have one more challenge they
must face.

A couple of months ago the Conayt Friendship Society (MHHS) stopped
allowing their drug counsellor to treat non-native people suffering
from addictions. Since then there has been a hole in the system that
needs filling.

Marilyn Tolmie, of the Merritt Helping Hands Society, was outraged
when she discovered there was no longer someone in Merritt that was
responsible for offering this service to non-natives.

"Mental health and addiction issues are completely different,"
explains Tolmie. "They have to be treated that way."

Tolmie says almost as soon as Conayt changed the services they offered
the MHHS's phone started to ring.

"People were calling, feeling abandoned," she explains. "There's
addictions in this community, and we have to provide for everyone."

At first Tolmie was extremely angry, but soon she realized it was more
important that she take action. She started researching what resources
already existed in the community and established a number of options
from the counsellors who work in Merritt. Although this gave people
someone to talk to when they needed it, there was still no one who
specialized in addictions.

She explains that when she was recovering it helped her a great deal
to be able to talk to a profession a couple of times a week. At this
point in her life she has a strong support system, and it still was
upsetting to hear she would have to wait three weeks before someone
could work with her. To someone who has decided to kick their drug
habit three weeks is too late, Tolmie explains.

"Someone who is deciding to get clean needs someone on a regular
basis," she says. "Our society can offer them support but they need
professional help -- someone who can offer them the tools they need to
survive."

The next step was to convince Interior Health that a mental health
worker specializing in addictions was essential in Merritt. Tolmie
says the manager of mental health and addictions is aware of the need
and has committed to establishing a part-time counsellor in Merritt.

Coun. Norm Brigden supports Tolmie in her objective. He says it is
time Interior Health start looking at the needs of communities on an
individual basis.

"The drug problem in increasing in Merritt," he says. "It is a sad
state in our downtown, and I think the city should lobby the
government to provide the money for full-time counsellors in the
downtown core."

After lengthy discussions with Interior Health, Tolmie is happy to
report that a part-time position will be created in Merritt. She says
this is a small victory, but she won't stop fighting until someone is
hired full time to meet the needs of the community. She even has some
advice on a way to get there.

"Everyone needs to flood Interior Health," she says. "They are going
to keep track of who is using the service so it will make a difference
if everyone goes. The needs of Merritt will be met if we show them the
need is there."