Drug addiction help is on the way

Sign of Hope surplus funds needed program

By BILL GLEN
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

The despair some parents and families encounter while dealing with a child's substance abuse will be a little less grim now that Catholic Social Services is set to launch its latest program.

Aimed at providing hope and direction when a youngster is mired in drug addiction, Genesis II has been born thanks to an unprecedented level of donations to the Sign of Hope campaign.

Surpass goal

"We reached the $2-million mark," said Al Gordon, program manager of CSS's substance abuse and correction services.

"Our goal was $1.92 million and with the extra money we are able to get Genesis II underway."

It is the 22nd consecutive year that the Sign of Hope campaign has reached its goal.

Genesis II will be staffed with a professional addictions counsellor in a CSS office and will work with parents, providing them with strategies to deal with their addicted children and letting them know what resources are available in the community.

It will not be a treatment centre but whenever possible, the program will try and work with the children directly.

"I'm hoping a lot of people will benefit from the program, particularly families in the community and their kids," Gordon said.

"I've been getting more and more calls from families that are stressed and frustrated because their children are caught up in drugs.

"Our agency is well known, so often we are the first persons they call. Unfortunately, all I could do was refer them to AADAC."

The parents might have a 15-year-old who they have put all of their resources into raising and suddenly they don't recognize him anymore.

They usually are not prepared and do not know where to go. They need support and understanding.

Options, referrals

"What we are hoping with Genesis II is to provide some basic, street-level support to outline options available and to give referrals when required to get their kids into treatment."

Gordon noted that it is mostly adults who make the first call.

But there are times when the child wants help. Access to treatment is required immediately or else they end up using drugs again.

Genesis II will be there for them.

"It might take a week or two to get them into treatment, but at least we'll start the process and keep them moving in that direction.

"It will give them hope and maybe we can hang onto them."

Access to drugs is becoming easier for youth, with recipes available on the Internet that use legal, easy to purchase ingredients to create illegal, synthetic drugs. The consequences can be devastating.

"Eventually I'd like to see support groups for parents and also for the kids when they come back from treatment," Gordon said. "We can't give up hope.

"We can't sit back and expect the government to do everything for us.

"I think the community has to step up and find those niches where the government isn't there. That is a trademark of Catholic Social Services.

"We work with the government and our partners and often we are able to fill the grey areas they haven't been able to get into."

Gordon said there are no magic pills or easy answers for a person suffering from substance abuse.

Powerful enemy

It is an intense process because the addiction never wants to let go.

Genesis II will help the family - and child - cope with the problem by responding to their calls.

Gordon would like to see the program operating by early March. He can be reached at 471-1122.

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