Don't gamble on Addictions Awareness Week

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November 16 to 22 is National Addictions Awareness Week. Across Alberta organizations and individuals are again putting their best foot forward to create awareness to the growing problem of addiction.

Sober walks are being held in many Native communities to raise interest and present information on the fight against addictive substances. Other communities are holding information sessions to bring the message home.

This year, gambling addiction is a focus of many campaigns. Gambling can be as destructive to a person as any amount of alcohol or drug use.

Ann Kiniak, the executive director of the South Country Treatment Centre in Lethbridge, said the big problem with a gambling addiction is that the bottom falls out all too soon for the addict.

"It can be much more devastating [than alcohol and drug addiction] because you can lose your house, your job, and even your life so very quickly," she said. "Gambling can lead to higher cases of suicide and it happens so quickly."

A few unlucky spins of the VLT or the wrong bet on a 'sure fire winner' on the ponies, and a life is turned upside-down.

The Lethbridge treatment centre recently began a three week gambling addictions program.

So far, since the program is so new, Kiniak said finding results is difficult, but she feels it is making a difference. Just announcing a program for gambling problems is creating more awareness in the community.

"Society is starting to become more aware that this is a problem," she said.

Members of the South Country Treatment Centre will be at the Lethbridge Save-On-Foods store on Nov. 21 with a display and presentation, ready to show the community about the treatment of addictions, including gambling.

At the Poundmaker's Lodge in St. Albert, Brad Cardinal, a counsellor with the gambling program, is also hoping more people become aware to the addiction of gambling.

Poundmaker's started their gambling addictions program six months ago.

Not all gambling addicts are found at the race track or in the casinos. Cardinal said some people become addicted to bingo or VLTs for example, making it a staple in their lives.

"For some people, bingo or VLTs becomes their whole focus. It becomes their recreation. So we try to get them involved in more healthy alternatives," he said.

For many, those alternatives are Native traditions and customs.

Cardinal said a big part of all of Poundmaker's programs involve traditional spirituality.

Many of the people who have come out of Poundmaker's are now more involved in powwows and round dances, he said.

Cardinal said it is part of the centre's four part approach to healing. Each client is taught spiritually, emotionally, physically and mentally the best ways to deal with their problems.

Cardinal said the teachings help to fill a void inside the addicts. Most times, he said, a person becomes a problem gambler because of deep-rooted, unresolved issues.

"It's not necessarily an issue of [winning money], but it's feeding an emptiness inside them. To them [gambling] is filling that void inside, relating to those unresolved issues," he said.

Poundmaker's 14 day residential program fills that void by increasing the client's self worth and belief in himself. The program gives the client focus, Cardinal said.

The program boasts an 85 to 90 per cent success rate. For many coming to a program like the ones offered at treatment centres, it is the last resort.

The treatment centres are a way for people who really want to stop, to succeed.

In High Prairie at the Action North Recovery Centre Nancy Seguin, the executive director, said they are working hand-in hand with the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC) for their events during the specially designated week.

The recovery centre is planning their sober walk for Wed. Nov. 19. Following the walk, a community feast is planned that will feature Native drummers.

The recovery centre is hoping that people from the whole community a well as the surrounding area take part in the walk and feast. Even if people don't feel they have an addictions problem, there is a good chance they probably know someone who does.