SOMETHING BIZARRE once hap- pened to me at a drug awareness meeting. I had been asked to speak to a large group of parents about kids and drugs, and the organizer showed up drunk. There were at least 400 people in a school auditorium, and the person who was supposed to introduce me was so bombed he bounced off the wall, Before he could do much dam- Counselling and ra for individuals, e coup’ s and families who are experiencing difficulty adjusting to some aspect of life such as drug and alcohol problems, relationship difficulties, stress. etc. An accredited service centre Professional - Confidential ENRICHING AND STRENGTHENING Family Life We offer of a variety preventative © counselling Services and/or family members. - 126 E.15th St. NV. 1470 Clyde Ave. W.V. FAMILY SERVICES of the NORTH 303 individuals for 988-5281 NOVEMBER 13 qi te) By Ric Durrant Contributing Writer age he was taken to the principal’s office to sit out the evening. It was a strange situation. How can someone arrange an educational program about drug misuse, and arrive intox- icated? This fellow had an alcohol prob- lem. When you are hooked on some- thing it is hard to see your own behavior clearly. Even if he knew alcohol was a drug, he probably would have said you were crazy if you suggested he was misusing a drug. . . Everyone should know the dif- ference between drug use and drug misuse. Knowing this can help you make sense of the drug use you Sce in the movies, on “television, in your family, and among your friends and acquaintances. When you are sur- rounded by beer, wine, liquor, over-the-counter drugs, prescription drugs, cigarettes, and iliegal drugs, you need a way to sort it all out. Knowing the difference between use and misuse helps you decide what kind of drug use is OK and what kind of drug use is not OK, I often find myself at parties where people ask ine “What sozt of work do you do?” When I mention I work in the alcohol and drug field some people For information brochures on drugs and alcohol abuse prevention contact your commmunily policing centres and local police stations. Community policing Centres Lower Lonsdale 232 Lonsdale Lynn Valley Center 1199 Lynn Valley Rd. sponsored b West Vancouver Police Station 1330 Marine Dr.: West Vancouver STEGER ESAS the get very nervous. They look sheep- ishly at the drink in their hand, they quietly try to put it down soine- where, or they make some comment .to assure me that they are not heavy drinkers. This is ridiculous. They should have enough confi- dence to know whether or not their drinking is alright. It’s a treat to- meet people who have thought about their own use of alcoho! and made a decision. People who know their drinking is trouble-free, or causing problems for themselves or others. Drug use becomes misuse when it causes problems for the user or someone else. If a person uses alco- hof in a way that causes no prob- lems for themselves or anyone else, { would call that alcohol use. However, if they drink and get rowdy and ruin your party, I call that alcohol misuse. . Don’t confuse use and’ misuse with legal and illegal, or with what personal beliefs say about what is wrong or right. These are different questions. The important question is what is happening because of the alcohol use? What are the results? Is the person hurting themselves or some- one else? Impaired driving is an obvious example of drug misuse. Someone is using a drug, and someone is at tisk of getting hurt. Is it drug misuse when a woman smokes during pregnancy? | think so, because it represents a health risk for the unborn baby. Another example might | be failing an exam or messing up a job because you were stoned. It could even be going out with someone and getting so drunk that they never want to see you again. A type of drug misuse I find really annoying is ffere! 419 1994 Ge when people get drunk and then crash into others on the ski slopes. They. are using a drug in a way that means that someone, possibly me, is at risk of get- ting hurt. are two important types of misuse that are hard to see because the prob- lems may not - become obvious for a long time. The first is when people form drug-use habits that will eventually result in them getting hooked (addicted or dependent). Watch out for people who seem to rely on drugs like marijuana and alcohol to make themselves feel good. The second type of misuse is when someone misses out on a cer- tain part of growing up because they are drunk or stoned a lot.. Keep your eyes and your mind open, and make some decisions for yourself as to what drug use and drug misuse means to you. Adapted with permission, pub- lished by AADAC. WHO TO CALL “SUCCESSFUL PARENTING” There’s hope for your kids despite the constant|' threat of aids, drugs, rebellion and gangs. Messages on timeless Biblical principles that help in the rewarding task of parenting in the 90's. We appreciate your patronage and we’d love to see you again, so please drink responsibly. “Sponsored by the Management Pub Open llam-midnight 7 days/week 135 Pemberton Ave. North Van. 984-3558 and Staff” Cold Beer and Wine Store THERE ARE places to turn for people who are having problems with the misuse of alcohol or other drugs. These include: {J Alcohol and Drug Information, coun- selling and referral service: 1-800-663-1441; © Alternative Substance. Abuse Program, North Vancouver: 984-0255; . : © Seaview Alcohol and Drug Programs, West Vancouver: 926-9260; 0 Alcoholics Anonymous: 434-3933; CI Narcutics Anonymous: 873-1018; (7 Crisis Centre: 733-4111; and G1 Safer: 879-9251.