GETTING TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM

Richmond Addiction Services Continues To Branch Out

When the Richmond Alcohol and Drug Action Team became Richmond Addiction
Services last September, one of the objectives of the name change was to
reflect the local service agency's wide range of programs.

Since then, Richmond Addiction Services has also started to focus on the
increasing number of partnerships it is developing with other health care
groups in the community.

"It's about collaboration and capacity building," says Richmond Addiction
Services counsellor Jill Craven.

"That includes helping and supporting special interest groups, community
members, agencies and service providers to better understand what role they
can play."

For example, counsellors train teachers so that they can gain some basic
understanding of addictions and be able to make referrals in a more
meaningful way. But Craven stresses, "We're not trying to make teachers and
parents addiction specialists, but rather trying to help them identify what
role they can play in promoting better health and prevention."

She says the idea is to work better to meet the needs of the entire
community-from youth to seniors. The goal then becomes helping those
individuals identify their own specific needs and empowering them to deal
with those needs.

One of the ways Richmond Addiction Services hopes to do this is by
continuing to offer meaningful workshops with the assistance of other local
groups. It has joined forces with Richmond Health Services and the Richmond
Chinese Parents Association on a workshop for Cantonese-speaking parents
entitled "How to help your child succeed" regarding pre-teen development.

The workshop is being held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 19 at the
Thompson Community Centre. Keynote speakers will include psychologist Dr.
Edward Shen, community health nurse Susanna Suen, children and family
therapist David Ho, and counsellors Jack Hirose and Clarence Chan, who will
provide information on drugs and gambling.

Chan also heads up Richmond Addiction Services' problem gambling program
which is offered in collaboration with SUCCESS. Counselling is available in
English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

Craven says it is important that the public recognize Richmond Addiction
Services does not just serve the hard-core addict, but also provides
assistance for prevention or to those people dealing directly with the addicts.

"We need to support the whole family," adds long-time counsellor Hirose.

Richmond Addiction Services has also just introduced a program for seniors.
The agency hired a specialist, Susan Match, in November after conducting a
research project along with Simon Fraser University last summer. Part of
Match's job is to provide outreach counselling and to direct seniors to
other health care providers.

For more information on Richmond Addiction Services and the programs it
provides, visit www.radat.bc.ca or call 604-270-9220.