Yellowknife (Apr 28/03) - The Salvation Army is one agency in Yellowknife that helps people with drug and alcohol addictions.

Dave Harder is director of programs at the Salvation Army. - Jennifer McPhee/NNSL photo

During the Archie Tsetta inquest earlier this month, the Salvation Army's director of programs, Dave Harder, said there's a lot of misinformation about what the organization does.

The Salvation Army started its NWT Resource Centre in 1981. The facility is made up of two buildings adjacent to each other. Inside, a wide range of services are offered including an emergency shelter, withdrawal management services and a halfway house.

The halfway house has room for 38 people and offers an intensive substance abuse treatment program.

The Salvation Army has a contract with Yellowknife Correctional Centre and federal department of justice. Most, but not all, of those staying in the halfway house are offenders.

However, about two or three clients are drop-ins -- meaning they walk in, or referred by another agency.

There is often room for walk-ins, but the Salvation Army doesn't guarantee space for walk-ins because it has no contract with the territorial department of health for this service.

The seven-week substance abuse treatment program addresses specific issues related to substance abuse -- relationships and family violence, grief and loss. The relapse prevention component focuses on how all of these issues are connected to substance abuse.

Part of the program's goal is to raise awareness by trying to change thinking patterns. People get into negative cycles of behaviour, explained Harder, which become automatic.

"The relapse prevention helps participants examine this cycle and recognize the triggers which set off these negative behaviour.

For instance, he said, some alcoholics used drugs or alcohol in back alleys in Yellowknife. Every time that person walks past that alley, or even thinks about walking past they alley, it triggers thoughts about using. "It actually triggers phycological change in the brain which is the craving," said Harder.

"The thinking intensifies and the craving intensifies and the whole thing snowballs," he said. "Before the person is even aware of what's happening, they can become obsessive."

After clients complete the program, follow up services are available. Some clients who continue to staying at the Salvation Army. Others may move out, but still access services. "They might come in every week or so to meet with someone and talk about how they are doing," said Al Hoeft. Generally, aftercare is provided free of charge to both clients and funders.

Withdrawal management

The Salvation Army's withdrawal management program is usually two weeks long -- although clients can continue their counselling after they've moved out.

Withdrawal management is a live in program, but not a medical detox. The staff are addictions counsellors. However, there is no nurse on staff. For this reason, people entering the program must be sober for at least a couple days. This time period ensures they are no longer at risk of severe withdrawal problems -- such as going into shock, or having seizures -- which require treatment by medical professionals.

For the first 48 hours in the program, they can't leave or make phone calls. "The reason for that is to protect them from triggers that may change their mind," said Harder.

While not technically a treatment program, group sessions are held every morning and afternoon about substance abuse. In the morning session, clients discuss specific issues. The afternoon session attempts to personalize the same subjects.

They may talk about how denial works, explained Harder and then learn to see their own denial.

Emergency shelter

The emergency shelter is made up of four rooms. "Basically, it's a graduated thing," said Hoeft.

"Room 101" is a safe place where up to 12 intoxicated people can crash on a mat for the night, as long as they aren't violent or abusive. "We don't expect necessarily that these people are all in any great hurry to get sober, stay sober and change their lives," said Hoeft. "But we also know they need a place to stay that's safe."

Those in room 101 are not allowed to use the lounge area because they make it uncomfortable for the sober people. There is also a zero tolerance policy for violence.

"If one person gets violent, 39 people are at risk," said Hoeft. "So we have to make sure violence is not tolerated."

When someone is violent, they are asked to leave and often escorted by the RCMP. "In the majority of cases, alcohol is a factor, but it's not always the case."

Room 102 is a room with mats on the floor for people who are sober. "Sometimes people are not making productive choices in their life and are content to sleep on a mat," said Hoeft. "But at least they are sleeping on a mat with people where their roommates aren't intoxicated."

Rooms 103 and 104 are dormitory-style rooms with beds. These people are making more "productive choices" said Hoeft. The may be working, and trying to find about place to live.

"It's very difficult these days because of the rental marked," said Hoeft. Often guys who are working, who in a normal market could find an apartment or board, aren't able to."

Staff check on the rooms a couple times an hour for safety reasons. Altogether, the emergency shelter holds 40 people.

Hoeft said demand has increased lately. "In the last week, we've put people in the lounge."

Other agencies in Yellowknife that treat addiction:

Yellowknife Women's Society

This Yellowknife Women's Society operates a shelter. Technically, the rule here is women can't enter the shelter while intoxicated. However, the shelter often does take in intoxicated people, according to the society's executive director, Arlene Hache.

Staff call RCMP if a person becomes violent at the shelter.

The society offers counselling and a healing and recovery program to address the underlying issues behind women's alcohol addiction. There is also a support program for families who are struggling with addiction.

Tree of Peace

Among other services, the Tree of Peace provides one-on-one counselling, support groups, assessment and treatment planning for people with addictions. There are three addictions counsellors who treat adults on staff as well as a counsellor specifically for youth. Counsellors often work with both individuals and their families. They also try to come up with ways of helping patients who repeatedly seek treatment but don't make progress. The Tree of Peace gets $170,000 in funding each year from Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority.

Young Women's Christian Association

The YWCA has a treatment program where women can access treatment during the day and return home at night. Babysitting is available. The Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority provides $500,000 in funding per year for this program.

The Yellowknives Dene Band

The Yellowknives Dene Band runs an alcohol and addiction program in Ndilo. The Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority provides $65,000 in funding per year.

Out-of-territory treatment

The Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority spends $80,000 a year sending patients to out-of-territory treatment centres. Those heading south must first meet with addictions specialist Dr. Ross Wheeler to get a referral.

It is mostly specialized cases, for instance pregnant women, who are sent south for special treatment, according to Al Woods, CEO of the Stanton Territorial Health Authority and Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority.

NWT Department of Health and Social Services

The department begins an initiative this year to better integrate addictions services in Yellowknife. The department currently spends $5.4 million on programs specifically for addictions. It will spend an additional $1.4 million this year to give addiction workers more training, increase their pay and have them work under a clinical supervisor. The department also pays the salaries of physicians, social workers and other medical staff who work with patients with addiction problems.