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WH]TY RME PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1989, PAGe 21 Self-help offered at Alcoholiecs Anonymous By Debbie Luchuk The family and friends;:of alco- holics are are often affected psy- chologically through worry about the drinker, embarrasement by a drinker's behavior, and accom- modating the alcobolic before themselves. Fortunately for those affected, there is help available through AI-Anon, and AI-Teen (for chil- dren of alcoholics). «We offer self-help. Ail of the. people there have aIl been througb the same kinds of. tbings. It's a sort of interactive counselling, we do not give advice,» said Judy, a member since 1975. "I was ashamed when I first went to AI-Anon. I went te the Whitby group rather than the Oshawa grouj (se that no on. would know), she related. Many of the people affected by the alcoholism of another are asha- iiil te, admit that ltcy euld use some «self-help» tbrougb AI- Anon. When I got there, I found that I am only responsible for my actions (not those of the alcoho- lie). It takes a while te get it pounded into your 'head, thiat I amn a child of God, and have a right te, live a good life of my OMn," she said. «O3n. of 'the main things (in the program) is tc> live on. day. at a ADDICTION RESEARCH FOIJNDATION 4Othanniversary year This Mature is tihe firet ini a series lw tihe Addiction Research Foundation ini célébrationi of its 4Oth annriversary year. These features are designed to inform the public about the. ARF's programus and resources as well as alcohol and other drlfh1iss1. you may neyer require treatment for alcohol or other drug abuse, someone close to youýmight. A survey by the Addiction Research Foundation (ARF) showed that in 1986 over 47,000 people in Ontario (6.6 per 1,000 population, 15 years and over) required treatment for addiction to drugs or alcohol. This Nursing assistants are coilege grads Durham College nursing assistants were the -recipients of' awards recently. .Sheila Arsenault, president of the Lakeview and district chapter of the Ontario Association of Registered Nursing Assistants, presented tWo special awards at a finishing partry for the 1989 graduates o the nursing assistant prograrn at Durhamn College, Friday, June 9. Mary-Dee Caddock of Oshawa was presented with an award for achieving the highest academic standing in the programn. Joanne Fox of Columbus received reontion for excellence in diclnursing. As well, Margaret Gover of Oshawa, a recent graduate of the nursing assistant program at Durham College was this year's recipient of the Beth Skinner Scholarship for clinical nursing. Dawn Hliggon, a faculty member of the nursing assistant program made the presentation. The scholarship was established in 1976 as a memorial to Beth Skinner, a former teacher in the program. It may be awarded annually to a graduating studdnt who shows exceptional ability in bedside nursing. Only students who show a high -level of skill as well as a sincere interest in their patients and enthusiasm for their work are considered. The nursing assistant programn is 10 months in duration. Rlecycling is .Smart DoMour Part! is an addition te the people who are receiving help or treatment through Alcoholics Anonymous, family- physicians and other cmuity resources. How and where people get treatmnent is the subject of ARF research that started in 1979. The ARF surveys all treatment services every three years in order te monitor trends in the development of addiction services in the poice. Until the ARF survey, =hr was no way of monitoring the total Ontario treatmnent system. By monitoring current trends, these surveys provide informnation that is essential for planning purposes. "Since we began, there have been many changes in'adciction treatmnent in Ontario, including more treatment facilities, more types of programs and more accessibility for Wvomen," says Brian Rush, who conducted the survey along witb Arditb Ekdal. In the late 1970s studies showed that àlthougb hospital-based programs were more expensive - than community-based services, they were not generally more effective. As a resuit, the ARP recommended more emphasis on community-based services in the development of an addiction treatmnent system for Ontario. Since that time, the network of community-based services lias dramatically increased. The capacity of day treatment services lias also increased, formf less than 1,500 in 1979-80 te nearly 3,000 in 1985-86. Tue g-. ..aimber of persons in short-term residential programns that are not affiliated with a hospital also increaaed from 919 in 1979-80 te 2,372 in 1985-86. According te the ARP, the total number of treatment programas available in Ontario increased from 130 te 186 during the six-year span between tbe 1979-80 and 1985-86. As well, surveys for the samqe period show a marked increase in the number of women being treated. "Researchers sud treatment counsellors have stressed how important it is,. when recommending treatment, te assess each person individually in order te determine what will work best for him or ber," Rush says. Instead of automatically recommending residential treatment, improved assessment lias allowed many people te be treated in out-patient prograzns, thus freeing-up more spacies in residential treatment. In response te, this improved abililty te match the right program te each person's specific need, the capacity Of specialized assessrnent/referral, programis available in Ontario increased almost 600 per cent during tbe period fromn 1979-80 te 1985-86. "Some of the areas that we are suggesting should have additional programns in the future are non-residential programis for early-stage problem drinkers sud special groups sucb as youtb sud the elderly," Rush said. Tue Addiction Research Foundation is an agency of the Province of Ontario. time, make today a good* day. You hàve to forget yesterdtay, .and not worry about tomorrow." Througzh fellowship with oth- ers, a se f-belp program based on the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, and in an anonym- ous, non- professional environ- ment, the support is there for the family of the alcoholic -to detach themselves from the alcoholism and instead to focus on their needs. A spiritual program, encourag- ing a jIef in a higher power, is an integral part of this program. "The program encourages people to have faith in a higher power, (but is compatible with al religious beliefs or none),» Judy saxd.- She found he-, faith was greatly strengthened by the pro- gram. Some of the members of the groups follow up- witb profes- sional counuýeling. There are two Whitby groups, holding meetings, once a week, 52 weeks -a year, even Christmas," Judyv said, because holidays are usually the worst time for' the alcoholie fa-mily. The. size of the group is cyclic- Lt (the number of -people) is always up after Christmas, and is down during the summer," she said. AI-Anonhas a series of ques- tions for those affected by the alcoholism of another to ask themselves, to decide if AJ-Anon is needed. Worry, money problems, liring feeling of insecurity, disru tion of f mly life and scedu'les, Pmo- tional' blackmail, embarrass- ment, ruined holidays, police interaction seclusion from social events, anâ feelings of hopeless- ness are aIl good reasons for attend "ingAl-Anion meetings. Ile Whitby groups meet on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Those interested in, or wanting. more information on Al-Anon or AI-Teen, can caîl 728-1020. Al-Anon and Al-Teen are affi- liated with Alcoholics Anonym- ous, a program for alcoholics.Trhe programns.are free of charge. VZdle The Whitby Free Press would like to wish a Happy Birthdlay to ail our Carriers for the month of J uIy! Corey Bayford Steven Berry Edith Black David Butland Evan Cardwell Michael Clark Gary Esplen Dallas Giesbrecht Mark Hugel Tim Loveless Robin McDougal Ryan McKinnon Joshua McVeity Eric Martin Ian Miller Chris Wilson Rebecca Woodhouse à, CORPORATION OFrTHE .... TOWN 0F WHITBY LTHORSE NOTICE IS HEREBY. GIVEN in accordance with provisions of Pounds Act R.S.O. 1980, Chapter 383. Corporation of theTown of Whitby has impounded a bay mare found running at large on or about June 6th, 1989 on property being composed of part lot 33 4,3 Concession 7 Town of Whitby. Any person claiming ownership or having knowledge as to ownership of the horse is requested to- contact Mr. Donald Intine, Municipal Law Entorcement Off icer, Town. of Whitby as soon as possible. If the owner or someone for the owner does not reply or redeemn the horse by July 3lst, 1989, the Corporation of the Town of Whitby shaîl publicly seil it to the highest bidder at the Whitby Municipal Building. Don Intine Municipal Law Enforcement Officer Town of Whitby 575 Rossland Road East WHITBY, Ontario LiN 2M8 1