— ieee a Liman. . a es __# : eo ek oe - a :
Sn ore TL ; oe ~ See ome ey Sl a ee. i —_aenaaa a
= a Se Tres Sec wh PS ATi eatin 25 eee Mens =a ee ee eee TD : Pee:

ers ae ry

ty te Dn

as it serves the entire north of the ©
province.
, People:* ‘who are’ ‘victims of _

alcohol ‘and . “substance — abuse

usually make the decision: to get

treatment’ when they reach a
crisis in their life, Kusnick says.

If there is not a bed available for . .

them at that time, the crisis can

pass and they may not be seen by -
a counsellor until the next. crisis,

which can take some time. |
_ .Kusnick says. most local doc-
tors will medically detox patients

- at Mills Memorial. However; if

they are put back into the com-

munity without additional educa-

tion, a treatment plan: or
counselling, many start the cycle
all over again. Kusnick says her

agency tries to get clients into

counselling immediately, but the
system would be more efficient if
they: could: keep them in a safe
environment for a few weeks,
putting them on a proper pro-

. gram, That way they could get

introduced to what is available
out in the community to assist
them, and receive a basic educa-
tion in a safe place where there is
no access to drugs or alcohol.

Kusnick says that. if the detox
centre were approved for Terrace
there would be a choice of ways to
set it up. The first method would
include treatment of both acute
withdrawal syndrome as well as
the post-acute withdrawal syn-
drome.

‘Acute ‘withdrawal syndrome

consists of a number of physical

symptoms and can last from three

to five days. It would require a

physician to go in on a daily basis
for ‘assessments of patients and
préscribing medication as well as
a nurse -on staff 24 hours a day,

in order'to administer. the medica-

tion and look. after the patients.

The post-acute withdrawal symp- .

toms are. predominately psycho-

logical, as well.as physical. Post-.

acute withdrawal syndrome can

last several months, or for some _
people more than a year. The |

denial period itself. can last for
several months and it needs to be
broken before a patient can move

~ Acute: Withdrawal -

on, Kusnick gays she believes iti is
crucial to havea program ; in place.
for these people. .
| The second possibility would.

son suddenly comes back’ and
tries to take back their place ‘in
. the family, including old responsi-

‘bilities, the family may not be '
_ immediately happy about it.

be to hospitalize patients for the
Syndrome
stage, then transfer them over to
the detox centre for treatment of

the post acute withdrawal syn-.
. drome,
_ counselling, education and a safe -
living environment. This format —

which. would entail

would not require a full time

- nurse, . but ‘would require a
_ specially trained human. service
. . worker on site at. all times with a .

counsellor coming in, perhaps on
a half time basis:

Length of stays in the detox
centre would range, depending on’
the person and what they are
addicted to. Alcohol can be a five- .

to-seven day stay, and valium or
marijuana up to three weeks,
perhaps longer. Everyone is dif-

ferent, and it could also depend:
‘on whether the client has a safe

environment to go to. ° -
Kusnick would like to see a

minimum of four to six spaces to

begin with, to cover the Skeena

' Health Unit area,.The number of

spaces would have to depend on
whether the full detox centre were
established, or if it covered the
post acute withdrawal syndrome
only..

Kusnick believes that once a’

regional detox centre was estab-

lished here, there would not be a ~

problem keeping beds filled. She
says however they would have to

be careful of people wanting to.
take advantage of it as safe place.

with free bed and food and a
place to dry out.
Kusnick could. envision a

‘centre in Terrace being used for
- older teenagers as well as adults

but does not see it as viable for
younger children. She would like
to see regular Alcoholics Anony-
mous meetings in the centre, as
well as family counselling. She
says the family of the addicted
person needs to learn how to take
care of themselves as well as how

to integrate person back. into |

home: Up until the time of recov-

- ery, the addicted person has abdi-.
cated family responsibility and _ .
- the rest of the family has had to ~

step i in and take over. If the per- |

Families are damaged -by a
meémber..suffering an addiction.
Kusrlick compares: the family of.
an. addict to a mobile: touch one
part, it affects all other parts. .-

Kusnick.says it doesn't. work

__for'society.to spend the money to.
medically detox someone and then

send then back out into the com-

munity without counselling . or

education on their addiction. The -
money could be better spent by

putting a patient through the

detox process and then through a

‘program that tries to break the

addiction, get through the denial
and get the person ready to go for

- either residential treatment .or
ongoing outpatient treatment.

— Diana. English .

| the name and address of

| #209-4526 Park c Ave, |

IMPROVING .
YOUR ODDS |
>a AGAINST .

a Fuse CANADA'S;
sce vwon | #1 KILLER’
A thoughtful way to.
remember is with an In
Memoriam gift to the Heart
‘and Stroke Foundation. of
B.C. and Yukon. Please
mail your donation to the
above address, as well as

next-of-kin for an
acknowledgement card.

| Maggie Park

Terrace, B.C.
638-1167

Terrace Review —- May 15, 1992