Pubdate: Tue, 20 Nov 2007
Source: Red Deer Advocate (CN AB)
Copyright: 2007 Red Deer Advocate
Contact:  http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2492
Author: Susan Zielinski
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n1358/a05.html

DRUG USE STIGMA PROTESTED

The stigma that people with drug addiction face was front and centre
at the kickoff to National Addictions Awareness Week on Monday.

A front-page headline - 'A crackhead' - in Monday's Advocate was used
for an article about Red Deer's new shelter program for the homeless.
A man using the shelter was quoted in the article calling himself "a
crackhead."

Kath Hoffman, director of health for Safe Harbour Society, which
helped organize the Winter Inn shelter program, called the headline
unfortunate.

"We work very hard to try to convince people that contrary to this,
they are not crackheads," said Hoffman, who was a member of an
addictions panel discussion at the Red Deer College Forum on Monday.

"They do not have to define themselves that way for the rest of their
lives."

Hoffman said health workers are still divided on whether drug
addiction is a disease.

"For me it doesn't matter.

"It doesn't have to be a disease to be a health issue."

Addiction involves the brain, and the brain is part of the body, she
said.

"I hear alcoholism being a disease, but I don't hear about crack
addicts or people who smoke pot as having a disease. That doesn't sit
right with me."

Hoffman said alcohol accounts for 80 per cent of addictions in
Canada.

Safe Harbour operates a 20-bed detox program for people who want to
get off alcohol or drugs. Since February 2006 a total of 482 people
have gone through the detox.

Jennifer Grant, youth outreach worker the drop-in centre Street Ties
Youth Outreach, said another unfortunate trend in addictions is the
use of drugs among youth.

"You have to be 18 to purchase alcohol. For a lot of young people,
they find it a little bit easier to go purchase marijuana on the
street," Grant said.

Some people experiment with drugs in their youth. Some may be
self-medicating to escape issues, she said.

"For many people, they think they'll try it once. They don't believe
they'll get addicted."

The drop-in centre is often the first point of contact for youth with
addictions.

"We are there willing to help when the time is right for
them."

An adult peer support group Next Step, holds meetings every Thursday
at 1:30 p.m. at the Turning Point building at 4611 50th Ave.

"We find people are a little more comfortable approaching us. They
know we'll understand them a little better," said Russ, who didn't
want his last name used, again due the stigma in society and to
protect the confidentiality of the group.

"We would like to see drug addicts treated with the same respect as
people with other addictions."

Next Step has welcomed health care workers to the group to give them a
better understanding of addictions.

Joan, with Next Step, said if young people heard about the reality of
addiction - being ousted from their family and being homeless - they
may think twice before they use drugs.

A Candlelight Vigil to honour those lost to addiction is set for
Friday from 6 to 7 p.m. at City Hall Park. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake