There may be problems with drug use in the community, but there is help and there is support, says Brenda Atkin, an addictions therapist with the Mount Forest clinic of Guelph’s Homewood Health Centre.
Atkin, who was speaking recently to a Community Oriented Policing (COP) committee presentation in Arthur noted that she works with young people up to adults.
Atkin lives near Harriston, and has worked in Mount Forest for the past six years.
She said “Working in my own community, I have an invested interest in helping out the young people – it is my community as well.”
She spoke of Homewood’s CADS program – Community Addiction Services – a community out-patient program that provides a wide range of services for individuals struggling with addiction issues.
She explained the program is part of the Homewood Addiction Division, which offers a seamless integrated delivery system. Programs and services are offered for all populations and cover a continuum of care, from health promotion activities to assessment and out-patient counselling, to residential treatment. CADS is client-focused, and works closely with the community to provide quality programming and services.
With CADS, there are offices in Guelph, Fergus, Orangeville and Mount Forest, she said. These services can include both assessments and counselling.
“We’re funded for young people 16 years and up, but we do see students in the schools under 16 – because you can’t help one student and not another. That just wouldn’t feel ethical.”
She added there is both family and individual support
“Drug treatment in Ontario does not look like celebrity rehab.”
Atkin explained there are some private beds, but for the most part there is a wait list.
The problem with sending them to drug centres is that the schools and parents might want them to go away, but the young people don’t want to leave their community.
Not all schools are great at referrals, she noted.
“Usually, it happens because a student is suspended for doing drugs or drug related.”
Her preference is not to send young people away for residential treatment.
“Often the family wants the young person to go, the school wants them to go, but the person does not want to go.”
She used an example of one young person looking at their parents and asking “why are you sending me away?”
“That’s kind of sad. They don’t want to leave their community.”
The other issue is that most such centres are fairly distant.
“Up until about a year ago, the youth who had the funds headed for treatment in the Ottawa area. Now Portage in Elora has some public funding, which provides young people to get treatment closer to home.”
Atkin added there are also support groups and programs out there where various topics are discussed – at no cost.
She said there’s been lots of talk about different drugs, and that a lot of people are going to try them.
She contended “Most of us probably tried different things coming up through high school.”
Why do some young
people use drugs?
Atkin believed the reasons are as varied as the reasons why people do other activities, such as wanting to fit in, wanting to check it out for themselves or not feeling good about themselves.
Mental health issues is another area for people with substance abuse problems.
She said people of all ages will use drugs to deal with anxiety, depression, sleeping problems – lots of things.
“Sometimes it’s about self medicating.”
But, she added, there are a lot of risk factors in developing addictions – and a person need not have all of them. These can include chaos at home, not having a place that is safe and secure or having no connections with the community.
Atkin said the flip side includes the protection factors – what will help them remain safe – and while they possibly will still experiment, they may not get too far down that path.
“One of the most important is having at least one caring adult.
“We need to keep them close, but not smother them.”
She said that often just sitting around the dinner table and having a conversation does make a difference.
Atkin commented on student surveys indicate a correspondence of increased drug use with grade and age level.
One of the most significant changes in the past 10 years, she said, is that most of the drug use has gone down across the province.
Another interesting item is perceived availability.
She said 57% of students believed that alcohol was easily available. Of course, alcohol, tobacco and marijuana are the top three, and the items that she sees most.
Other consequences
In the survey, 1 in 8 licensed drivers in grades 10 to 12, report driving within two hours of taking two or more drugs within the past year.
As well, 1 in 6 reported driving within an hour of using marijuana, she said.
“So not are they only worrying about other things, they are driving impaired as well.”
Atkin added a quarter of students between grades 7 to 12 reported being in a vehicle driven by someone who’d been drinking alcohol.
She said “there is also the whole dance between whether the drugs are improving or damaging one’s mental health.”
“Sometimes it can be both.”
For most people after smoking marijuana, that person is fit to do nothing afterwards, but for some, it allows them to focus and it allows them to concentrate – even though it is probably not good in terms of memory or retention.
Role models
Role models play an important factor, and sometimes it is the example provided by parents than can make a difference, Atkin said.
“A parent is one of the most important role models. Their friends might seem like a big influence, the same for TV, music – but really they are looking to you for guidance.”
Young people see whether parents approve or disapprove of their actions.
“What is sad, is when the parent doesn’t say anything,” she said.
She added that acknowledging feelings does not mean accepting certain behaviours.
Letting things slide may seem easier, but it is not easier in the long run.
If you don’t know them, you don’t know what is up with them – whether the bloodshot eyes are because of drugs, or because they were in a fight at school.
She stressed one of the best ways to know whether a child is using drugs “is to know your child.”
