A NORTH Vancouver drug and alcohol recovery program has developed an innovative approach to substance abuse treatment that has virtually eliminated its waiting list and has captured international attention, ‘By Robyn Brown Contributing Writer oe Bet the program needs new premises from which to operatic, West .Coast Alternatives Society, which has been operating out of the North Vancouver YMCA building on Hendry Avenue for 10 - years, was informed in January that its lease would not be renewed this “year, . . The space tormerly Cloverley clementur; school — has been reclaimed by the North Vancouver school board and will likely be used as temporary class- rooms while schools in the district are upgraded. “The fact of the matter is that . we were very fortunate that the YMCA provided us with space here at & very generous cate,” said Alan’ Podsadowski, executive director of the program. ‘“We estimate that in 10 years, “it’s probably saved the taxpayers nearly half a million dollars.” According to Podsadowski, the ” non-profit society could be looking ata rent increase of over $80,000 a " year. “That's a big chunk, ” he said. “If we can’t come up with the money, we won’t be able to operate ‘the same kind of program. “Our hope is that we can find suitable-space, either af a very rea- ... sonable rate, or that some philan- ‘ thropist ¢ out there has a building or “ piece of land that they might “want to donate.” ‘The treatment program, known ssaults '/ FOR MANY North Shore cab “drivers, the possibility of get- - ting’ beaten up steps into their . cabs with every customer, - A By Anda Marie D'Angelo «| News Reporter North Shore Taxi operations manager Grant Wood said cabbie assaults are increasing locally along with “big city” crimes. But Wood said the number of _ assaults can’t accurately be mea- sured because most cabbies can’t be bothered to pursue criminal charges, The attacks, he said, are usually --minor, and the cabbies don’t want _to lose work time filing police READERS VOICE CALL US: 983-2208 ee ee re Friday. May 2 20, 1994 - North Shore News - 3 '"" NEWS photo Mtke Wahetteid ALAN PODSADOWSKI, executive director of the West Coast Alternatives Soclety, Is searching for new promises for the non-profit society's drug and alcohol recovery program. simply as Alternatives, needs about . 465 to 558 sq.m (5,000 to 6,000 sq. ft.) of office space, including a large classroom. The premises would have to be reasonably close to a bus route and preferably located in central North Vancouver. And they’d nied to be able to move in by August. “Ideally it would be nice if we could share a facility with one ar more other organizations,” said Podsadowski. “The advantage of sharing space with the YMCA is that people who are uptight about corning to treat- ment can walk in carrying a° gym bag and wearing sweats, and it just reports and attending court. “The driver ends up being the ultimate victim. They’ll lose time and everything else,” said Wood, adding-that most. punches are thrown at cabbies at night by drunken customers. An apparently rare prosecution of a cabbie assault recently netted 22-year-old David Dale Hitchcox of North Vancouver,a 17-day jail term. The sentence was slated to be served intermittently. The cabbie involved, who didn’t wish to be identified, said he received bruises to his face, but an apparently inebriated Hitchcox “got more than he gave” during the altercation. The North Vancouver com- plainant has been driving cabs looks like they're walking into the YMCA.” Alternatives operaies a number of drug and alcohol treatment options, including individual and family counselling, drop-in support groups, a youth program, and an education series on addictions and substance abuse. However, one of the most suc- cessful and innovative accomplish- ments of Alternatives is its work- book, Recovering From Addiction: A Guidebook for the Journey, ’ designed, co-authored and edited by Podsadowski and containing contributions from 13 other profes- sionals in the fields of addiction, rivers a since 1987. He pursued charges because a different-cab driver could have been seriously injured in the attack. According to the North Vancouver RCMP, Hitchcox punched the cab driver in the head at the end of a March 5 trip in Lower Lonsdale. The police said Hitchcox took off without paying the cab driver and was tracked to an apartment in the 300-block of East Third Street, where he was found breaking a lobby window. After being arrested, Hitchcox attempted to kick out the rear win- dow of a police cay. The police said that Hitchcox later spat on officers in the North Vancouver RCMP detachment. is it necessary to kill animals after they have attacked people? jan Newby West Vancouver It depends on the circumstance -— whether the animal was provoked. Was it running at large? What is it’s history? ony Christine Trussel West Vancouver Yes. They shouldn’t be allowed to attack people, especially children. psychiatry, nursing and psycholo- gy. Now in its third printing, the book has garnered national and international recognition. Ht is being used by drug and wtcohol programs in every province in Canada and in over 20 states in the U.S. Podsadowski said people regard treatment as a place, as in the phrase,“I am going to treatment.” The workbook helps to maxi- mize the time between counselling sessions and puts the onus on the clients to do the work. “In talking to counsellors, the difference is night and day between growing Besides pleading guilty to ‘assaulting the cah driver, Hitchcox pleaded guilty to two counts of mischief, One of the charges related to breaking the apartment window and the other charge related to scratching the rear driver’s-side window of the police car. Hitchcox also pleaded guilty to assaulting Const. Mike Legault in connection with the spitting inci- dent. : North Vancouver provincial court Judge Jerome Paradis item- ized the monetary damage that Hitchcox had to pay in the $589.38 restitution: $8.25 for the cab fare; ; $406.13 for police car damage; Ea $20 for the window; and the clients who use the book and those who don't,” he said. “People are so much more aware of their behavior and they understand addiction more.” The 1} chapters in the book address many of the major issues for someone recovering from drug or alcohol abuse, such as self- esteem, emotions, relationships, and stress. “When I first started treatment, | barely knew who I was,” said Terry, a former client of Alternatives. “I was really out of touch with myself. The workbook helped me geta clearer focus of why T abused drugs and how I was going to stay clean.” The workbook,. combined with drop-in groups and an education series made up of eight two-hour sessions, allaws for more immedi- ate service to the clients’ needs. “In the past we used to have a seven-month waiting list,” said Podsadowski. “But now people have pretty much immediate access to treatment because we Offer all different levels at the front end of the program. However, many of the pro- gram’s achievements could be in jeopardy if no suitable premises are - found for the program. “Tt has put a tremendous finan- cial pressure on us,” said Podsadowski. “tt is likely that we are going to have to make some major cutbacks. But what do we cul? Every part of the program is being utilized to the maximum.” West Coast Alternatives Society was established in 1975 and receives the majority of its funding from the provincial Ministry of Health. It provides drug and alco- hol intervention and prevention services to approximately 500 peo- ple per year. For more information about the program, call 984-0255. cone cern 2-$155 for damage to the North Shore taxi. The judge did not order a victim surcharge payment or compensa- tion in connection with the charge relating to spitting on the. police officer. ; Hitchcox is on probation until he concludes his jail sentence in November. |. Meanwhile, Wood said cabbies can refuse, to transport customers, including those who are excessive- . ly drunk or abusive. He said cabbies, especially those working the night shift, know there is a possibility of being assaulted by customers. The cabbie involved in the Hitchcox incident was the victim of another assault in 1987. REPORTS OF attacks by both domestic and wild animals have been publi- cized recently in B . C, When wild animals are caughi after attacking peo- ple, the animals are almost always killed immediately. Domestic animal attacks usually involve investigation before an animal’s fate is determined. Frank Wolfe Deep Cove It is a wrong practice because ani- mats are just acting on instinct. People are encroaching on their tcr- ritory more and more. | THIS WEEK’S QUESTION: | Do you believe Quebecers’ views are accurately reflected by Bloc MPs? Brock Burgess West Vancouver It’s definitely horrid to kill animals just because they've attacked pzo- ple, unless the animals are diseased.