FINDING A FLICKER OF HOPE

The light can often go out for those trying to beat an addiction.

But that does not mean they should stop trying, say organizers of a
candlelight walk Monday night in support of drug and alcohol
addictions awareness.

Dianne Nielsen, director of the Prince Albert Council on Alcohol and
Drug Abuse which hosted the walk, said the candles represent the path
to healing.

"When we do the walk, we know the candles are going to go out,"
Nielsen said.

"And then we light them again, and we cover them up, and it needs a
lot of lighting up again and trying again."

The walk was the first in a series of events in the city in support of
Saskatchewan Addiction Awareness Week, which runs Nov. 14-20. This is
the first year for the walk, which specifically targeted crystal meth
and cigarette addiction.

Nielsen said addictions affect those in all walks of
life.

"What we really want to portray is that it can happen to anybody,
anybody can develop this, and it's nothing to be ashamed of," she said.

"Our walk is just to respect and honour those who have addictions and
are suffering."

Gordon Kelly, chairman of PACADA's board of directors, said the number
of addicted people with whom the organization works does not reflect
the number who still need help.

With just two counsellors for every 600 or so clients and an
approximate two-week waiting list for treatment, a lack of funding and
staffing is part of the problem, he said.

"You want to get them while they're hurting and after two weeks they
start feeling better (and say) 'maybe I don't have a problem,'" Kelly
said. "If we had two more counsellors, we could take another 600. I'm
sure they're (clients) out there and willing to come."

He said access to new types of drugs -- such as crystal meth, which is
cheap, easily available and highly addictive -- will make the need for
addictions treatment even more necessary.

"With the plague of crystal meth coming now, (there's) going to be
very serious consequences to the whole community," Kelly said.

"So we do need more funding."

Several other events are planned as part of Saskatchewan Addiction
Awareness Week.