NEWS photo Cindy Goodman

“DONNA, A warranty clerk, likes hot summer days and travel-

- ting. Her favorite novel is Interview with the Vampire by Ann
Rice; favorite actor — Brad Pitt. Future plans include travel-
ling through Europe and Australia.

West Coast Alternatives on Delbrook Avenue

AN ALCOHOL and drug
treatment) = program has
reopened on the North Shore.

By lan Noble
News Reporter

The West Coast. Alternatives
Society has opened its doors at
3721 Delbrook Ave. after operat-
ing out of the North Vancouver
YMCA building for 10 years.

Executive director Afan
Podsadowski said an erroneous
perception exists: that drug and
alcohol problems are nol a serious
concern on the North Shore.

But local residents are actually
heavier than average drinkers, con-
suming five drinks per week com-
pared with 3.8 for Canada as a
whole, Podsudowski said.

Alternatives sees 500 people a
year, he added, There is a six-
month waiting list for clients to see
one of the service's six counselors
one-on-one.

Bul clients can attend
Alternatives evening courses while
waiting fo see a counselor. Courses
offered include learning about the
addiction, process and how. addic-
tion occurs,

“Therapy has to be user-friend-
ly.’ Podsadowski said.

Those who have been through
Alternatives attest to the program's
SUCCESS.

A North. Vancouver womiun,
who drank one or two drinks a day
and more on weekends, said drink-

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ing became disruptive to her fami-
ty fife.

The wontn, her husband and
children all received counselling
from Alternatives.

Since attending Alternatives
more that two years ago, the 44-
year-old “upper middle class”
woman has not touched a drop of
liquor and she credits that to the
program,

“Ht saved my marriage. [tt saved
my children from being dysfune-
Gonal, f.couldi't put into words
what that kind uf support does.”
she said.

Before attending Alternatives,

she became irritable and lashed out
ather family members,

That irritation, she learned,
stemmed from her physical addic-
tion to alcohol and marijuana.

Another recovering alcoholic,
who ironically works at a liquor
store, said he has been off booze
for four years.

He said his parents were abu-
sive emotionally, but they never
drank.

Alternatives helped him deal

with his past.

The West Coust Alternatives :
Society can be reached at 984- ©
0255, ;

MAIOR PERSONAL injoRY

Free initial Consultation:

A08- 145 Chadwick Court.
N, Vancouver (Lonsdale Quay Plaza) .

‘Denotes Low Corporation

MANDAREN

AS rt SECOHD AAUGUAGE
"(B. C.) Provincial exams in Mandarin by June 1995.

| Vancouver Sun, ie 30, 1994

Mandarin is the official language in China. Taiwan, Singapore and i is,

popular in Hong Kong; ‘

-Curriculums are tor people who use Mandarin i asa second language:
Classes are for all ages and all levelss start on “April 12, 1995;
School located at Chartwell Elementary School, West Vancouver.

For information please contact Mrs..Wu at 988- 0203 |