AADAC OPENS SATELLITE OFFICE IN STRATHMORE

Local Office Best Bet To Fight Addictions, Say Community Members

After years of anticipation, the Strathmore community saw the opening of an
AADAC office on Oct. 1.

AADAC addictions counsellor Shannon Fraser is assessing and providing
counselling for individuals, couples and families with alcohol, drug and
gambling problems. In some cases, depending on the severity of the problem
and other factors, clients may be referred to a treatment centre.

Last May, community members met with Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Commission representatives to talk about the need for a permanent AADAC
office in Strathmore. At that time, an AADAC representative had already
served the community for about five years, but members said a local office
would serve the town and area better.

As AADAC received more government funding this year, it was able to open
satellite offices in Strathmore, Cochrane and High River.

And so far, the feedback from the community has been very positive.

"The response has been wonderful," said Fraser. "AADAC feels very welcome
here."

She extended her thanks to Hearthstone Child & Family Services, which
offered her office space.

Fraser has been with AADAC since 1987 and has worn many hats since then,
including supervisor of the Calgary office.

She would be glad to speak about alcohol, drug and gambling issues to
community groups or schools.

Early intervention is crucial, said StoreFront school principal Denise
Peterson, and there needs to be more education about the dangers of drugs
in schools.

One of her students, who preferred not to be named, said there was no such
education available in high school. The student, who moved here from
Calgary, added there are more drug dealers here than in the city. However,
she pointed out, as Strathmore is a small community, drug abuse is
therefore more visible.

The town is doing better than most communities, but it still has problems,
said Peterson. Use of marijuana is the biggest problem. The drug halts
emotional growth and drives away all ambition.

"They can't get out of bed in the morning," she said. "If they do secure a
job, they can't keep it."

Drinking is pervasive, but it's not as bad as it was 10 or 20 years ago.
However, teenagers still drink too much.

Peterson has seen an increase of designer drugs, such as Ecstasy. Kids
believe the drug isn't addictive. Some females use it to lose weight. Some
kids get high to escape everyday life.

"Many have holes in their lives," she said. "They fill it with drugs. It
kills the pain."

In other cases, taste is just as important as the effect.

"I have kids who say to me 'I love the taste of beer'," said Sharon
Blanchard, a family/school/community resource worker, who works with kids
with behavioral problems all over Wheatland County.

There are some warning signs that parents should keep in mind: withdrawal,
change of friends, a drop in grades. It could be a spiral of addiction
starting.

If so, many parents initially have feelings of denial and later blame
themselves for what happened.

To help drug addicts, there needs to be a community involvement, said
Blanchard. She would also like to see a support group for parents and
children respectively where those affected share their problems.

Shannon Fraser said she would like to run a support group for parents.

If you have a drug/gambling problem or know someone who does, call Fraser
at 901-1326. This is a confidential voicemail. Confidentiality extends
beyond the office; if you meet with Fraser, she will not acknowledge you in
public unless you acknowledge her.

Some people say you cannot save everyone with a drug problem. But Denise
Peterson strongly disagrees.

"You sure as heck can save every single one with help from the community."

(SIDEBAR)

ABC For Drugs

Alcohol

Alcohol actually acts as a depressant on your central nervous system,
slowing down brain functioning.

A common effect of drinking alcohol is a sense of well-being. This feeling
could be accompanied by drowsiness, dizziness and flushing. After one or
two drinks, you may not appear drunk, but you have already lost some of
your coordination skills. Drinking more alcohol will affect your speech,
balance and vision. Drinking heavily over a long period of time can lead to
serious health problems such as stomach ulcers, sexual problems, liver
disease, brain damage, and many kinds of cancer. Excessive drinking is
often responsible for financial, legal and family problems.

Ecstasy

Ecstasy is a hallucinogen related to amphetamines. It is a chemical
(methylenedioxymeth-amphetamine or MDMA) made in drug labs. Ecstasy is also
called E, XTC, Adam, Euphoria, X, MDM and Love Doves.

Ecstasy is popular at "rave" parties, all-night dances often held in
abandoned warehouses. Ecstasy usually comes in gelatin capsules or tablets.
The tablets are small, can be any colour, and may have a dove, a hammer and
sickle, or a diamond on one side. Ecstasy can also come in a powder, which
is snorted or dissolved and injected.

You can feel the effects of Ecstasy about 20 to 40 minutes after taking it.
The high can last four to six hours.

Ecstasy can make you feel mildly intoxicated, relaxed and energetic.

You feel trusting, loving and warm towards others. You may feel that you
are experiencing spiritual insights.

Ecstasy also makes sensations stronger (especially touch).

Ecstasy can also cause jaw clenching, teeth grinding, anxiety or panic
attacks, blurred vision, vomiting, and increased sweating, blood pressure
and heart rate.

It may cause depression, irritability, poor concentration, forgetfulness,
exhaustion and paranoia (delusions of persecution). These effects can last
for several days.

Ecstasy has been involved in deaths due to severe dehydration and heat
exhaustion, abnormal heart rhythms and liver failure.

There is evidence that high doses of Ecstasy can damage brain cells.

Gambling

Gambling problems can range from minor to quite serious. The gambling may
cause only occasional problems in the gambler's life - for example, making
it difficult to pay the utility bill or rent some month. Or it may progress
and have an ongoing negative impact on the gambler and his or her even
illegal activity.

Here are some signs that a person may have a gambling problem:

* Spends large amounts of time gambling. This allows little time for
family, friends or other interests.

* Begins to place larger, more frequent bets. Larger bets are necessary to
get the same level of excitement.

* Has growing debts. The person with a gambling problem is secretive or
defensive about money, and may borrow money from family members or friends.
Pins hopes on the "big win." The problem gambler believes the big win,
rather than changing the gambling behaviour, will solve financial or other
problems.