November 26, 2003 News e¢ the other press © Addictions Awareness—Walking a Fine Line Kelly Parry News Editor Fraserside Community Services Society and the Douglas College Women’s Centre joined forces to present displays and lectures celebrating Addiction Awareness Week. The theme for the Douglas concourse display, and two hour lecture by Cindy Willet, Alcohol and Drug Counsellor with Fraserside’s Perspective pro- gram, was The Values of Pleasure, Comfort, and Escape: The fine line between coping and addic- tion. ‘Trish Reddy and Marion Bruce, representatives for Fraserside, spoke to students about the cycle of addiction. It often starts simply enough, with using alcohol or gambling as a source of entertainment and fun. Then a trauma may happen in a person's life, such as the death of a spouse, or a major change in life, like starting school. A substance or activity that once provided pleasure now begins to become a source of comfort in hard times. What was once a harmless pastime or experiment can become an escape. “Our society is trained to look outwards for source of pleasure, fun, comfort, and escape. We've heard lots of stories from students worried about their own addictions or problems with family and friends. If you are struggling, you are not alone,” Reddy said. It is the escapist nature of drugs, gambling, and alcohol that often turns a pastime into an addic- tion. A person who is chemically, socially, or genet- ically predisposed to being an addict is also at greater risk to fall prey to an addiction. Oftentimes the addiction is an attempt to self-medicate and treat chronic pain or depression. Self-medication is a person's attempt to ease the symptoms or pain that is causing the distress in their lives. With concurrent disorders, for example, a per- son with chronic anxiety may smoke marijuana to diminish their social anxiety and to feel more com- fortable around people. Gambling addictions pro- vide a similar “hit” of excitement to the per- son involved. The mood altering effects of gambling and sub- pO drugs, gambling or alcohol please seek the services tionship _ stance abuse can lead — ofa trained profession- to a chemical depend- © al, Contact any one of ence on the activity or — the organizations listed substance. With the below: changes in the brain’s chemistry, permanent SHARE Family and damage can result and Community Services long-term impairment Rae, is possible. 2 Once a person has Burnaby Family like crossed that thin line Jpgtipure between coping and 604.659.2200 addiction, the road to : (Burnaby) recovery can be rocky but there is hope. If a person can face up to the problem and then take measures to treat their addiction then successful recovery is possible. Where do you find help? Check out the Douglas College Women’s Centre or Peer Services at Douglas College. Fraserside Community Services Society has drop-in ort es P supp 604. 588. $430 groups, counselling (Surrey/Langley) and mental health serv- ices to help people find the help they need. Call them at 604.522.3722 or visit their website at . http://www.otherpress.ca waluswe Student O(lor! Sony Ericsson T300 ~ > FREE Digital Camera ~~ Up to 33% off your monthly bill NO contract ~~ NO mail-in rebate All for ar Only at the Student Phone Store Available with all FIDO monthly plans. Quanttios SLmutod! of offer, $445) STUDENT PHONE STORE “Terms and conditions apply To get this offer go to WWW.StudentPhoneStore.com, your nearest Travel CUTS shop, or call 1.866.287.1835. You can also check out our other exclusive student offers from Fido, Bell Mobility, or Rogers AT&T. You are not alone The Students’ Union’s Pride Collective provides resources for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered students at the college. The Collective meets Thursdays at 4:30. All lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, questioning and allied students are welcome. Douglas Students’ Union Canadian Federation of Students Local 18 Page 5