issue 09 / volume 41 From the couch to recovery » Mike Pond discusses the struggles of addiction at Douglas College Angela Espinoza "News Editor Minews @theotherpress.ca n January 19, therapist Mike Pond will be giving a lecture at Douglas College on addiction and recovery from personal experience called, “Seven Things I Learned on the Way to Rock Bottom... and Back.” Pond has been sober since August 2009, successfully overcoming severe alcoholism and using the time since to rebuild his life. Pond released his breakout memoir on May 10, 2014, titled The Couch of Willingness: An Alcoholic Therapist Battles the Bottle and a Broken Recovery System. Pond co-wrote the book with his partner and documentary filmmaker Maureen Palmer, whom Pond credits for helping him through his recovery. to be educational, and will be based on lessons learned from his experiences as a therapist, as an addict, and as a writer. “It'll be both the writing process itself and I’m going to do some teaching on : addiction,’ said Pond. “ma therapist, I'ma : registered psychiatric nurse, : and I’m also a registered social : worker and have a Masters : of Social Work. I’d been in : practice for many years when : my addiction took over and I : was pretty well-established in : my community in Penticton : but the addiction became so : severe, to the point that I ended : : up in the Downtown Eastside, : homeless and broke.” Pond added that after : losing his practice, his home, : and his family, he went through : treatment centres and recovery : houses to try and overcome : his addiction. Pond stated he : wound up in prison, and that : he “visited the emergency room : : a total of 31 times.” “Each of those visits was an : opportunity to engage me in ; a compassionate conversation : about how to stop my : addiction,” said Pond. “Instead, : : : | was in most cases shamed and : Pond said the talk is meant blamed and told to ‘get lost? : : there were ‘real’ sick people : waiting for treatment. We have to realize end stage alcoholism : is as life threatening as cancer : or heart disease. “T learned some powerful " lessons in that process [and] : how the system is just not set > up to help individuals with : addiction issues.” Pond will also be : discussing how medical views : of addiction have changed : over time, and what new : treatments and technology are : being introduced to help with recovery. “Most of us that have addiction issues, we end up : just going to the standard : AA, 12-step kind of programs, : support groups. What we : have is a medical condition, it’s a medical disorder, and : some even say it’s a disease. : In fact, the Canadian Medical Association says it is a disease ; and so does the American Medical Association. ‘“ we There are exciting new discoveries in pharmacology, : psychology, neuroscience : and genetics. Experts tell me : treatment is at least 15 years behind research. I’m working now to close that gap.” The lecture is presented by the Douglas College health : sciences department as part of ; their speaker series. Pond’s talk : is free and open to the public, : and will be at the David Lam campus in room A1470 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. news // 5 MICHAEL POND MAUREEN PALMER Cosby performs Ontario amidst protests » Two of three shows saw disruptions from audience Angela Espinoza "News Editor Minews @theotherpress.ca ' several cancelled shows, Bill Cosby proceeded with three Ontario comedy performances last week. The shows took place in Kitchener at the Centre in the Square on January 7, London at Budweiser Gardens on January 8, and Hamilton at Hamilton show reportedly did not sell out, and while the Kitchener show was reported as having gone smoothly, disruptions happened at the London and Hamilton shows. Prior to the London show’s white slips as they entered the venue. The slips read, “Patrons have a right to enjoy tonight’s performance. Disruptive behaviour will not be tolerated and will result in removal, possible legal action, and/or banning from the venue.” Later that evening, Cosby is : quoted as having said, “You have : : to be careful about drinking : around me,” in response to a : woman in the audience who espite repeated protests and : pad gotten up toa drink. Critics ‘| D : have responded negatively to the : : line and interpreted it as Cosby: : attempting to make light ofthe: : almost 30 separate sexual assault : : accusations towards him, some : of which have claimed he spiked : drinks. Following the joke, a man reportedly stood up during : the middle of the routine Place Theatre on January 9. Each : shouting, “You're a rapist.” Media : : outlets have stated the man : : was escorted out by security, : questioned, and then left the : building. The Hamilton show saw a bigger disruption early into start, attendees were handed out the evening as various men and : women stood up and revealed : shirts that read, “We believe : the women.” The people were : eventually removed from the : venue by security and the show : continued on. Since last November, : numerous sexual assault : allegations against Cosby have : been made or re-introduced : to the public. Several victims : had previously come forward : years earlier, such as Andrea : Constand whom met Cosby in : 2002, lawyer Tamara Green who : claimed Cosby assaulted her in : the ‘7os, and Barbara Bowman. Constand’s claims made a : civil lawsuit, but the case was : reportedly settled outside of : court. 2005 and 2006 saw many of : the reports occur in succession, : but it was not until November : 2014 that the allegations would see another media frenzy. The latest women to come : forward with allegations are : Linda Kirkpatrick, Lynn Neal, : and a woman going by the name : of “Kacey,” all of who are being ; represented by Gloria Allred. : The allegations were announced : January 7, the same evening as : Cosby's Kitchener show. While some other : performances have since been : cancelled in the US, such as : in Connecticut, Nevada, and : New Jersey, Cosby currently has : another 15 shows lined up on his : 2015 comedy tour.