PREVENTION IS KEY

At 17 years of age, Cynthia had her first experience with cocaine. She knew
right away that it wouldn't be her last.

Gradually, the desire to get high was the only thing that mattered to her.
She would do whatever was necessary to get money to buy drugs.

Once the addiction had taken control of her life it didn't take her long to
end up on the wrong side of the law. Eventually, after several years of
bouncing in and out of the criminal justice system, Cynthia finally asked
for help.

She would find that help at the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge, where she is
currently serving an 3 1/2 year disposition for armed robbery.

Now, eight hard years after that first experience with cocaine, Cynthia
stands before a group of teenagers at Maple Creek Composite High School and
bravely tells her story.

With her is Gail, who is also a resident of the healing lodge. Together
they hope that by sharing their stories they can help prevent others from
making the same mistakes that they did.

Cynthia and Gail were invited to talk to the students as part of National
Addictions Awareness Week, which took place November 17-23rd.

Once a year, National Addictions Awareness Week attempts to cast a
spotlight on the potential damage that drug and alcohol abuse can cause.

For Southwest Health District, Addictions Counsellor, Phyllis Goebel,
educating people about the perils of drugs and alcohol isn't a one week
job. It's what she does every day of the year.

As the only addictions counsellor in the Southwest district, Goebel does
not sit back and wait for people to come to her with their problems.
Instead, she actively goes out and tries to stop those problems from
happening in the first place.

It is never too early to talk to kids about drugs and alcohol", Goebel
says. The earlier you can get to them, the better your chance is of
stopping them from ever experimenting."

Goebel tries to go to schools throughout the region to talk to as many
young people as she can. She attempts to meet the students on an one to one
bases.

Although a time consuming process, experience tells Goebel that in smaller
communities it is the best way to get her message out.

Many years ago I tried to set up some public information nights."

I had quite a few people show up on the first night, but as soon as they
saw people there that they knew, I lost them."

No one wants their problems to be signaled out, and in a small town it is
difficult to ensure confidentiality in a public setting."

One of the most important things that Goebel teaches is that substance
abuse is something that effects more than just the abuser. Everyone around
the situation will feel the ramifications of the addiction, and has a role
to play in recovery.

Addiction is a family disease", Goebel says. No one around [the abuser]
escapes it."

Both Cynthia and Gail would agree wholeheartedly. In both cases their
addictions have jeopardized relationships. In fact, both women had to give
up custody of their children.

In Gail's case, her drinking ended up causing the ultimate damage -- the
death of her common law partner. It is still really blurry to me now", Gail
told the students. But, I can remember sitting with a knife and thinking
[that's] it, so I got up and stabbed him."

That single action has hurt so many people -- my kids, my family, his
family -- no matter what I do I can never change that."

Cynthia and Gail's stories may be extreme, but they think that it is
important for people to understand that it can happen to anyone.

Cynthia remembers sharing drugs with people from all walks of life.

When I was using I would end up in some pretty classy places."

But, it usually didn't take long for the lawyer that I was sharing my
needle with to end up beside me on the streets."

Goebel thinks that it is important for people to realize that nobody is
immune from the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. Caregivers need to be
vigilant in their efforts to protect their kids from using.

Parents need to realize that there is a role for them to play."

They can't be afraid to parent."

According to Goebel it is important for parents to set limits, and to keep
tabs on their children's activities. They also have to be prepared to deal
with anything.

We all like to think that we have brought up angels." But, sometimes we
need to take our heads out of the sand and deal with the truth."

Goebel stresses that it is vital that caregivers never make excuses for
their child's substance use. She also reminds them that need to be role-models.

What does it say to the child if dad comes home from work and has a few
beers, while mom is in the kitchen popping a valium?"

Some people might think that there is less opportunity to find drugs in a
community the size of Maple Creek. Goebel has a chilling message to those
that believe that.

Since I started in this job there is nothing that I haven't seen. With the
internet, and our increasing mobility, there isn't anything that you can't
get anywhere."

In many cases, all it takes to stop a kid from using is for someone to care
enough to try to stop them.

As much as anyone, Cynthia understands that. Which is why she is driven to
make something good come out of her experiences.

This is in my blood now."

It is important for me to get my story to the kids."

They are the future."

People wishing more information on addictions, and the treatment options
available, can contact Phyllis Goebel at the Southwest Health District
Community Services office, located on Highway #21, in Maple Creek. She can
be reached by calling 662-5340. Confidentiality is assured.