INTERVENTION IS BEST CHANCE FOR SUCCESS

Scare tactics don't really work when it comes to drug and alcohol abuse.
But awareness, education and counselling are often part of the recipe for
prevention and recovery, according to Jack Hirose, a counsellor and
community worker with the Richmond Alcohol and Drug Action Team.

This coming week is Drug Awareness Week in B.C., but the philosophy of
spreading the word throughout the community isn't left to just those seven
days.

"Prevention, if it's going to work, has to be consistent and done
throughout the year," Hirose said from his office at 170-5720 Minoru Blvd.

Every year, hundreds of Richmond residents use RADAT's free counselling and
therapy services to overcome addictions to drugs, such as cocaine and
heroin, and alcohol. Many are referred to detoxification and residential
treatment facilities. Thousands more attend educational presentations at
Richmond schools and local workplaces.

The community service isn't solely about dealing with people already
suffering from a drug or alcohol dependency.

Parents unsure of how to deal with a child who may be experimenting with
drugs such as marijuana or ecstasy often consult people at RADAT for
advice, Hirose said. Others attend educational meetings with guest
lecturers who give insight into the current drug culture and the latest
scientific studies.

If children don't smoke by the age of 18, chances are they'll never smoke,
he pointed out.

That's why RADAT hopes to increase its focus on early childhood prevention
when dealing with addictions to drugs, alcohol and even cigarettes. "I
think prevention efforts need to start a lot sooner," said Hirose, who has
worked for RADAT for the past 11 years and has counselled youth for 20 years.

Some studies indicate that drug use among youth is starting earlier than
ever. A 1998 survey of 40,000 youth found that about 40 per cent of them
had tried marijuana between Grade 8 and 12. That's up from about 29 per
cent in an earlier study. Another study, done by the University of B.C.
about six years ago, asked survey participants when they first started
using alcohol, marijuana or cigarettes. It found that 70 per cent started
before Grade 9. Hirose has noticed that there are more severe cases of drug
and alcohol addiction among youth today than in years past.

Although Hirose doesn't want to give the impression that all kids are using
heroin and cocaine, he said the use of those two hard drugs is "definitely
on the increase."

He's also noticed an increase in the use of the drug ecstasy in recent
years with the increase in popularity of the all-night parties known as
raves. So is marijuana a 'gateway' drug that leads to the use of other
harder drugs?

There's been no causal link found, Hirose said, although there are
definitely risk factors among youth that impact their likelihood of using
drugs.

The earlier a person begins experimenting with drugs, the higher the
chances of developing a problem down the road, he said.

If there's poor communication in a family, if one or both parents abuse
drugs, or if there is physical abuse in a family, that's also a risk
factor, he said.

For all of the efforts in the community to inform children about the
dangers of drug or alcohol abuse, Hirose said that message also has to come
from the home.

The earlier the intervention, the greater the chance of success, he said.
Avoiding boredom for children by setting up youth programs and activities
will also go a long way in dealing with the problem.

Youth in northern B.C. and on Vancouver Island, where there is a higher
incidence of drug abuse, blame boredom as a main reason behind drug use. A
recent forum funded by a $2,000 grant by the Richmond Foundation was
attended by 53 students who were asked what their health issues were. Drug,
alcohol and cigarette use came out as the top concern, followed by teen
pregnancy and bullying.

The next education meeting, featuring a drug presentation by RCMP Cpl.
Scott Rintoul, will be held on Thursday, Nov. 22 from 7 to 9 p.m. at
RADAT's Richmond offices, near the intersection of Minoru Boulevard and
Lansdowne Road.