ADDICTIONS COUNSELLOR MOM MAD AT SYSTEM

To the editor:

Re: "A family addiction," June 1.

I was disgusted when I read the article. I am a certified addictions
counsellor and a First Nations woman who has worked in the provincial
corrections system for approximately 10 years and now work in the
Downtown Eastside, specifically in the Main and Hastings area.

Why does the government support the habits of the addicted people and
support drug dealers? Why doesn't the government ask the parents of
these grown children for input.

I have battled my own addiction and the addiction of both my children
for 23 years. My sobriety and training as a counsellor has most
certainly helped my family, but unfortunately my daughter struggles
still.

I would like to see a room full of parents design a solution to the
Downtown Eastside problem instead of people who have no idea what this
experience is like. Institutions should be used for treatment rather
than punishment.

My heart goes out to Mike Petek because I am that parent, too. I see
so much money spent on agencies to assist the addict but when I or
anyone like me tries to get someone into detox the system is so
difficult. The addict can't wait for a week or five days.

Try to get help from an agency and each one checks to see if that
person is their client. Each agency fights for the pots of money,
hence services don't communicate with each other.

Someone in government who has a degree sits in a highrise office and
plans out the agencies and the lives of their clientele. Do they know
what it is like to watch a member of their family slowly dying?

Parents need to get together and change the system. We need to fight
back. Example, the Ministry of Children and Families will pay about
$1,700 per child in a foster home while moms who need assistance to
get out of their addiction to keep their children can't even get a bus
ticket to get to see their addiction counsellor.

Yes! I am mad at the system and strongly believe we can change it. We
don't need degrees to know what is happening to our children. Just
walk down Hastings on welfare day and see who the government is
supporting. Thanks for listening.

CAROLINE BUCKSHOT

Burnaby