Pubdate: Sun, 18 Nov 2001
Source: Richmond Review, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 Richmond Public Library
Contact:  http://www.richmondreview.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/704
Author: Martin van den Hemel
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

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.
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