INSIDE DOUGLAS COLLEGE / MARCH 20, 1990 Cocaine subject of public forum, March 20 ocaine is becoming a household drug, and your next-door neigh- bour could be a consumer. That’s the word from Harold Urstad, who’s moderating a public forum on cocaine March 20 at Douglas College. "There’s no such thing as the typical user," says Urstad. "They can be rich or poor, young or old, intel- ligent or unintelligent, well-edu- cated or uneducated." Urstad, who has 19 years of ex- perience in the drug and alcohol ser- vices field, says the effects of cocaine on our society are underestimated. “There is more to cocaine and its effect on our society than most people realize," he says. The forum, which will help people learn more about cocaine, is designed for mem- bers of the public, including parents, teachers, youth workers and youngsters. Panelists include a biomedical researcher, a medical expert, a cocaine counsellor and an ex-addict. "There will be enough expertise on the four-member panel to answer al- most any question posed by the general public or health profes- sionals," says Urstad. As program director of Perspec- tives Substance Abuse Services, Urstad helps addicts overcome their dependency. He’s had a first-hand look at the destructive potential of cocaine. "This has been underes- timated for a long time," he says. "The drug is more hazardous than other substances. It’s not the in- nocent drug that people thought it was for many years.” "Cocaine is extremely addictive. People get hooked on it very quick- ly. I hope that the people who play with this drug get the message: don’t play with it; it’s very, very dangerous." The forum will address issues like how the drug affects people, and why it is so powerfully addic- tive. It will also explore how society and health professionals view problems arising from cocaine abuse and what people can do. Those directly connected with cocaine use will learn of the services and treat- ment options available in the Lower Mainland. Urstad says the problems facing cocaine abusers often do not end with the white powder. The euphoria produced by coke fades, and is followed by crushing depres- sion, which many users try to temper through the use of other sub- stances, such as alcohol, marijuana, or tranquilizers. "Cocaine users tend to use everything under the sun," says Urstad. "When you come down from cocaine, you have the crash coming off it, so you use arty- thing to make the crash less severe." Forum panelists will also answer questions relating to ‘crack’ cocaine. Urstad says that few developments on the streets of U.S. cities have provoked as much atten- tion and alarm as the appearance and use of crack. Crack is a cocaine derivative that poses immediate risks to the user and is highly addic- tive. Cocaine: A Public Forum On The Issue will be presented on Tuesday, March 20, 1990, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the New Westminster campus. The fee is $10. To register call 527-5472. @ Group Advising Sessions Schedule All sessions start promptly at times advertised and are approximately 1 1/2 - 2 hours in length. Sessions are free and pre-registration Is not required. All sessions are held at the New Westminster campus unless otherwise stated. MARCH 26 — 30 Therapeutic Recreation Program ...........060. Monday, March 26 full-time & part-time 1000 hours Room 4223 Heather Commerce & Business Administration ........... Tuesday, March 27 University transfer programs to 0830 hours UBC and SFU Room 4221 Lorraine Community Support Worker Program ......... Wednesday, March 28 full-time & part-time 1400 hours Room 4221 Lorraine Early Childhood Education Program ........... Thursday, March 29 Basic Program 1400 hours Room 4211 Linda Grim inOloOg Visa de cecr ee taie ce) ona tens-s) cis else ene st Thursday, March 29 Career and University Transfer programs 1600 hours Certificate & Diploma Room 4211 Heather Long Term Care Aide Programs siete Willige Ors . . Friday, March 30 Basic & Upgradin 0830 hours Home Support Worker Training Program Room an 1 i in 6