North Shore centres offer counselling THE NORTH. Shore has two government-funded out-patient free counselling services for people with substance abuse problems, yet the need for counselling is greater than the availability of counsellors. . Aliernatives Substance Abuse Program (984-0255), a North Vancouver-based counselling cen- tre, has a three-month waiting list of people needing help with abuse problems. Their clients are not just people with. alcohol-related problems, explained director Alan Pod- sadowski. While 65% are alcohol-related, Alternatives has 20-30% with marijuana problems, 20% with cocaine addiction, 10% - prescription and other narcotics, Alternatives Substance . Abuse Program ' 984-0255 Seaview Alccho! and Drug Programs 926-9260 "Vancouver Betox "660-6656 “Pender Detox a 682-2806 - “and less than 2% .are addicted to heroine, he said 3s Many of their clients: have prob- lems with more than one item, - which : is. why. the percentages don’t -add up to’.190%, Pod- sadowski explained. © “'He.also pointed out that the. a 20%. fig igure for cocaine dependen- ‘ey -has risen from zero over the - last six years. —- ¥ ».-David: Miller, a counselior at . ‘the - Seaview Alcohol and Drug - «Programs (926-9260) clinic in “= West Vancouver says that while “there are many ways to tell when “YOu! have a probiem, the most im- portant way is how you feel. ‘.v. “Clients call because they think ‘they have a problem, and no mat- ter. how much they consume, if - they think they have a problem, -then they do,”’ he said. - Typically some aspect of their Hives is not going as they want it “te; and counselling can help, said. . _Miller. . Both Seaview and Alternatives istart with education, and --Posadowski pointed out that while clients wait for their first assess- Pamela Lang News Reporter ment session (approximately two weeks after calling the clinic), they can get invoved in the education and support group sessions im- mediately. Education and information are keys to more effective and focused counselling sessions, he said. Both progeams will start with ; Harbour Lights Detox ‘682-3674 | Crisis Centre 733-6111 Safer 879-9251 Alcoholics Anonymous 434-3933 Narcotics Anonynious. 873-1018 individual counselling for the abuser, but family counselling ideally follows because abuse is a family problem, said Pod- sadowski. : The average abuser, added Miller, affects 25 other people's lives. : _A counselling client may neéd more than what Seaview or Alter- natives can offer, and those peo- ple are referred to other agencies. Referrals are done through the out-patient clinics for residential care facilities that provide live-in support for a person whc requires more intense help. Seaview operates Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., while Alternatives operates . Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to Sp.m. Both offer one-hour counselling sessions approximately once a week. Residential programs will take people cut of their home en- vironment and give them 24-hour support. They are appropriate for people who need more support than counselling can offer, . FOR HELP WITH 8 Relationship breakdowns ¢ Alcohol/Drug problems e Emotional distress ¢ Parenting issues ¢ Financial concerns * Legal problems » BCFLAIL HAPLOVE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Call in confidence 984-5247 or. those coming out of detoxifica- tion. North Shore residents who re- quire detoxification are referred to one of the Vancouver detox cen- tres: the Vancouver Detox centre (660-6656), the Pender Detox (682-2806) or the Harbour Lights. Detox (682-3674). Someone in crisis who needs emergency assistance is often told to call the Crisis Centre at 733- 4111 or go the hospital if they can’t wait for a bed in one of the detox centres, Miller said. People in crisis are typically also given the Safer suicide in- tervention number, 879-9251. But Miller added‘ that it is a minority of Seaview’s clients that go to detox centres —. most can go directly into counselling. Admitting themselves to the hospital, into a detox centre or in- to a residential program is always voluntary, he added. Although counsellors may recommena such action to their clients, the decision can only be theirs, he said. Also recommended by abuse counsellors but never forced is the level of abstinence clients can ob- | tain, said Seaview director Wayne | JAY'S PHARMACY LTD. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT ALL PRESCRIPTION DRUGS & NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS | We Care , 100-1940 Lonsdale ye N. Van. Yea f 988-7128 | Nickel, adding that ‘‘we work with where they’re at."" The program entered has to be ‘“*their program,’’ he said, “teveryone has the right to self community groups and schools. Seaview will have a display at Park Royal mali this week where . the public can get information on counselling services, and substance ‘abuse including the chance to view determination.”" the Tip-Dart interactive video, a Both programs have an educa- tional aspect to start clients out, and will provide speakers to See Alternatives page 36 North Shore Counseliing Centre Counselling & therapy for individuals, - couples and families who are | experiencing difficulty adjusting to some aspect of life such as drug and . alcoho! problems, depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties etc. An accredited service centre — . Professional — Confidential. — North Snore Counselling Centre 2104 Gordon, W.Van. 926-5495 1 7 Wespecialize in books and tapes on addiction,. .* ‘alcoholism, aduit children of aicoholics, sexual’ abuse, relationships.and much more. We'alse | provide free information and speaker nights. -& We're valle when you need us so drop by or give oo us aca . “if The Serenity Shop- “Your Personal Growth. Bookstore” 228 LONSDALE AVENUE 33 WEST BROADWAY“ f. N. VANCOUVER, BC. VANCOUVER, BC. 4” (604) 987-8726 —__ (604) 873-3533: DID YOU KNOW = * Alcohol sales and consumption on the North Shore. are higher than that of the neighbouring communities of Burnaby and Richmond. *North Shore adults consume 33% more alcohol than other | Canadians, spending on average $426 per year per capita. *28% of North Shore high school students drink alcohol weekly. xilliicit drug use; ie, marijuana, cocaine, LSD and heroin. is active - on the North Shore ' #People who abuse alcohol and/or ‘drugs are absent from work 3-5 times more offen than non-users *One in 3 hospital cases in BC. is alcohol or drug related. Substance Abuse on the North Shore Report June 1991 For more information and/or services on alcohol or drug use please call Seaview Alcohol and Drug Programs West Vancouver 926-9260 West Coast Alcoholics Alternatives Society Anonymous North Vancouver. ‘Central Number