Pubdate: Wed, 30 Nov 2005
Source: Voice, The (CN BC Edu)
Copyright: 2005 Langara College
Contact:  http://www.langara.bc.ca/voice/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3592
Author: Richard Gilbert
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

STUDENTS LACK HELP WITH DRUG PROBLEMS

Those Who Are Trying To Handle Addictions And Receive Help May Be 
Directed To Outside Clinics

Langara students have few services on campus to help them deal with 
addiction to drugs like crystal meth, but help may be coming from 
local clinics and the federal government.

"We encourage people to come and see us. But if they have a drug 
abuse problem we refer them to an addiction service," said community 
health nurse Susan Kensett.

David Miller, youth counsellor at South Addictions, a community 
health clinic, said they usually get one person a year from Langara 
and would like to do more work at the college.

He said one-on-one counselling and access to a doctor and nurse are 
the main services available for Langara students.

Initial consultations provide a chance for the counsellor to get to 
know people and assess their needs. Meetings can be scheduled within 
one to two weeks and usually last an hour.

The Langara Queer Collective provides a space where people can hang 
out and discuss their drug problems without being judged or 
castigated, said liaison Steven Huston.

"Our main concern are gay students. We have brochures available but 
there is no drug counselling on campus. We can provide referrals for 
addiction services," Huston said.

Health Canada provides funding at the provincial level to assist 
communities in preventing and reducing harm associated with meth 
through the Drug Strategy Community Initiatives Fund.

"We are in the final stages of negotiation for completion of 
approval," said Adrienne Taplin-White, program officer with the 
BC/Yukon Drug Strategy and Controlled Substances Program.

She said the DSCIF has received 145 applications from all over the 
province. The application process has not been completed, so she 
doesn't know how many programs will be approved.

The program has $724,000 to finance community groups in this call and 
funding can extend up to three years. The program is based on 
responses received from communities in B.C. A number of proposals 
came forward to address the problem of crystal meth by providing 
public education initiatives that target street youth and gay men.

Crystal meth was a priority, but the program also deals with other drugs.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman