Pubdate: Wed, 22 Nov 2006
Source: News Review, The  (CN SN)
Copyright: 2006 Yorkton News Review
Contact:  http://www.yorktonnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4047
Author: Jamie Kreiser, N-R Writer

WEEK PROVES NO COMMUNITY IS IMMUNE TO ADDICTIONS

Each Year, Almost $40 Billion Is Spent in This Country on Substance Abuse.

In Saskatchewan alone, the cost reaches $1.2 billion, or about $1,200 
per person.

Proving no community is immune to the dangers of substance abuse. 
This past week, local organizers put on various activities in 
conjunction with Saskatchewan Addictions Awareness Week running 
November 19 to 25.

Kicking off with a Sober Walk for Awareness, Andrew Sedley, health 
promotion coordinator for Mental Health and Addictions, points out 
the goal of the week is to in fact raise awareness of addictions 
issues in the community.

"A lot of times there's a stigma associated with addictions," he 
comments. "Some people may look at it as a moral issue instead of a 
health issue. We really want to push the fact that it is a health 
issue and you can come for help."

Sedley says it is important for the community to come together, just 
like the many families, youth and community residents did for the 
walk, and raise awareness for the issue. He notes, addictions don't 
just affect the individual themselves, they affect everyone around them.

"Addictions affect family members and the community as a whole," he 
explains. "It affects friends and even people they aren't really 
close with, whether it's an employer, a co-worker or their neighbors. 
Everyone can be affected." And it doesn't matter how big or small a 
community is, addictions affect communities of all sizes.

"There is that myth that if it's a smaller community they may not 
have the same issues as urban centers," remarks Sedley. "But whether 
it is locally, provincially, nationally or worldwide the drugs that 
are used most commonly are the same."

Sedley says whether it is Yorkton or Vancouver, alcohol is still the 
top addiction with marijuana coming in second.

"No community is immune," he says. "By raising awareness and having 
the community come together like this is a step in the right 
direction to hopefully decrease some of the substance abuse."

Other activities for the week included a flag raising at City Hall, 
programs dealing with the subject shown on the community channel and 
presentations in the high schools.

The latter, Sedley declares, is a huge part of the week promoting 
prevention and in some cases leading to early intervention.

"Getting youth involved is a huge step," he says. "We have these 
young champions in our community and getting them on board to take 
ownership and push this thing forward will continue to make it successful."

Saskatchewan Addictions Awareness Week is held in conjunction with 
National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW).

An estimated 600,000 people participate in NAAW activities across 
Canada each year.
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