AADAC TO HAVE LARGER ROLE

After alcohol, the next most common drug people see addictions counsellors
at Lethbridge's AADAC centre for is cocaine, and it is no different in terms
of what they see Taberites for the most.

While marijuana is listed most commonly in paper work where clients indicate
drugs they have done, cocaine is the most popular drug people use
Lethbridge's AADAC centre for.

"Small towns are not immune to any sort of drug use. Drug use is also
prevalent throughout smaller communities in comparison to larger centers no
matter age, gender or occupation," said Lana Hansell, an AADAC addictions
counsellor.

According to AADAC's database, 30 per cent of AADAC clients in the south
district reported they have used cocaine in the last year. Hansell added
cocaine is not necessarily their main addiction.

AADAC has provided services to youth for roughly six years.

Hansell started being available half a day weekly in Taber for sessions with
adults in January 2004.

AADAC has increased its presence in Taber for adults by a half day, as Ron
Beach will be serving the area full days on Tuesdays at Family and Community
Support Services.

The organization has seen an increase in the number of clients they treat
for cocaine addictions in the last year. Hansell added however, it is hard
to say whether the rise is due to more AADAC time being allotted to Taber,
an increase in use or both.

Hansell has treated at least one individual from Taber for an addiction to
methamphetamine, which is a drug 10 times more powerful than regular speed.
She added a lot of time has past since then.

"Certainly I think meth is a concern for Taber and Vauxhall and that area,"
she said.

Hansell added Taber has a few advantages for battling the drug problem here
such as Taber Community Against Drugs, initiatives started by the group, two
treatment centres being close to town and Fort Macleod's detox centre. She
refers Taber clients to David Lander's Treatment Centre in Claresholm and
Lethbridge's South Country Treatment Centre.

"We really have to work on what we have now and not focus on what we don't
have," she said.

Lander's typically has a two-three week wait and clients generally
experience a two to three month wait for South Country, said Hanswell. She
said getting clients, who do not have a means of transportation, to the
centres is key.

She added wait times are as such at centres across the province and programs
such as community support groups and AADAC counsellors aim at helping
addicts in the mean time.

Since people can only stay at Foothills Detox Center in Fort Macleod for
five days at a time, individuals can usually get in the same day they call.
The facility is for people needing a safe environment while they start to
stay away from their addiction. Some clients also need to be watched because
their extended use of drugs or alcohol has caused medical concerns.

"It depends on what they have been taking in and for how long -- they need
to be watched," said Hansell.

Another plus Taber has is the Inter Disciplinary Support Team, which has
been up and running for a few months. When a professional works with someone
they believe needs support from outside their agency, the client is asked if
they want to be involved in the team. If the person does want to be involved
they sign a confidentiality form allowing local agencies to share
information to better improve access for the client.

By the end of this month Hansell hopes to have the team compose a flow
chart, which would enable agencies to be more aware of where they should
turn to get the individual additional help.

"Some people I think are in a real crisis I think such as suicide. Someone
else might be just starting to question their use," says Hansell.