FAMILIES, HOMES, SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES ALL AFFECTED BY DRUG USE

(The second installment of a four-part series focusing on drug use)

Every family in the Kenora area has at least one member with an addiction
and is in need of treatment, says Patti Dryden-Holmstrom, addictions
manager for Addictions Services Kenora.

Referring specifically to drug abuse, about one in 25 people across the
province will need help kicking the habit. Whether it is alcohol, tobacco
or illegal street drugs, the average is about the same locally, she says.

However, not everybody looks at the tremendous cost to families, homes,
schools and businesses that are attributable to addictions.

A spouse or child in trouble often leads to a breakdown in communication,
trust and respect. Distraught parents have been known to spend tens of
thousands of dollars trying to help their kids get clean, while drug abuse
among adults can easily lead to problems in the workplace.

The cost of a residential treatment program can run from $250 to $300 a
day, and commonly run for four weeks, said Dryden-Holmstrom.

Both lead to financial stresses on the family as a whole, as those abusing
can resort to stealing, pawning goods or drawing from savings to support
their habit.

"They're very egocentric," she said. "It's their needs first."

In order to get their fix, some people will risk a conviction, said Const.
Dave Withers, a member of the Rural Agricultural Crime Team operating in
Kenora. "A lot of people will resort to crime to support their drug use,"
he said, noting a case he had near Sioux Narrows last summer.

Withers said between $10,000 and $20,000 worth of electronic goods were
gathered and stored, with some places hit two and three times. The items
were then sold off gradually by the thieves who used the money to buy drugs.

In the fall of 2002, a group of young Manitobans were arrested in
connection with a crime spree along Hwy. 17 West, after a series of break
and enters were also linked to drug use.

In Kenora-Rainy River, alcohol and marijuana remain the drugs of choice
among students in Grades 7 to 12, and gradual rate increases are a cause
for concern. According to a study of 1,278 area students conducted in 2001
by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, one in three students said
they had used marijuana, while another 38 per cent of students reported
binge drinking, which means they had at least five drinks at a sitting.

As the parent of two teenaged daughters, as well as a hockey coach, public
school superintendent Jack McMaster is particularly aware of the dangers
facing teens.

"We're well aware of the fact that there are drugs in Kenora," he said.

Changing hats to take on his coaching role, he added, "I can't control what
you do on weekends, but if you have a teammate that appears to be in
difficulty, then you should look after them."

The new Safe Schools Act provides for suspensions and expulsions for those
possessing and trafficking drugs on school property. Signs of drug abuse
include a lack of motivation, a drop in attendance, poor punctuality and an
increased interest in partying or weekend activities.

"If they're using daily, you're definitely going to see a change in
academics," he said.

Self-esteem and peer pressure still play big roles in a student's decision
to use drugs, McMaster noted.

According to the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse, workplace problems
due to the impairing effects of alcohol and other drugs include the lower
productivity of chronic or dependent users. Impairment is also a major
cause of unemployment and absenteeism, and alcohol impairment causes a
significant number of workplace accidents.

Lower-status workers, young persons and males are most likely to experience
a workplace problem due to their use of alcohol or other drugs. Workers in
particular industries are especially prone to use alcohol or drugs on the
job. Aspects of the work environment such as stress, organizational and
co-worker norms, and ready availability will influence levels of alcohol
and drug use on the job.

Annual productivity losses in Canada in 1992, the most recent numbers
available, due to substance abuse have been estimated at $4.1 billion for
alcohol, $6.8 billion for tobacco and $823.1 million for illicit drugs.
Taken together, all forms of substance abuse account for $11.8 billion in
productivity losses, representing 1.7 per cent of the gross domestic
product (GDP), or $414 per capita.