PARK PARENTS INVITED TO FORT NAR-ANON

Since the announcement to introduce Nar-Anon in the region, Fort
Saskatchewan youth and family counsellor Penny Siminiuk has been inundated
by callers awaiting the first meeting.

"We've had people express the need for it, and now we have some dates
set," said Siminiuk.

Meetings are scheduled to take place regularly on Mondays and
Thursdays at the Fort Saskatchewan Boys and Girls Club starting April
19.

"I've received calls from Sherwood Park, Lamont, Gibbons, and Redwater
asking when the first meeting will take place," said Siminiuk.
"There's a lot of interest to attend this program."

A Nar-Anon meeting is not professionally run, but it will cater
directly to family or friends of a narcotic addict as a means to offer
a support network.

"They're all there for the same purpose," said Siminiuk. "For support."

The program is offered at the Boys and Girls Club through the Drug
Awareness Steering Committee.

This is not through any religious organization, treatment centre, or
counselling agency, Siminiuk assures.

"It's simply a non-professional organization where members, on a first
name basis only, can share their experiences, and discuss methods they
can use to solve common problems."

Siminiuk brought the program to Fort Saskatchewan and region after
locating the group's Web site on the Internet.

Nar-Anon is based out of California and has outlets throughout the
United States.

As far as Siminiuk knows, the Fort will be the first to establish a
Nar-Anon Family Group.

The group's Web site, www.naranoncalifornia.org, explains the program
as one based on the 12-step process of Narcotic Anonymous.

They say the premise of the program is to help family members or
friends of a drug addict cope with the anxiety they are put through
while constantly worrying for their loved one.

"We become obsessed with where the user is, what they are doing and
how we can control their using," the site posts. "We want to believe
the problem has solved itself, even though at the gut level, we know
this is not so."

Nar-Anon claims ultimately the obsession and worrying leads to a state
of denial where family will tend to believe the promises made by the
addict.

The first meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 19, at 10 a.m. in the
Fort Boys and Girls Club, 10090-93 Ave. The second meeting is on April
22 at 7 p.m.

For more information contact Siminiuk at 992-0103.