'I don't even really like drinking'
Man opens up on his alcoholism for Addictions Awareness Week
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Published Friday, November 14, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Adolf Hakuluk sits in the Safe Harbour Day Centre, otherwise known as the day shelter, lamenting his lot in life.
Adolf Hakuluk shared his thoughts with Yellowknifer on his battles with alcoholism and anger while spending time at the Safe Harbour Day Centre, often referred to as the day shelter. He said he drinks to deal with anger, spite and loneliness even though it has landed him in jail and left him the victim of violence. Hakuluk opened up prior to addiction awareness week. - John McFadden/NNSL photo |
"I came back to Yellowknife a few weeks ago to propose marriage to a woman," he said. "She thought about it for three hours and then handed my the ring back."
That's just the latest event in Hakuluk's live that leaves him with feelings of anger, spite and loneliness.
"That's why I drink," he said. I don't even really like drinking but alcohol seems to help me deal with my anger. I've been drinking every day since she rejected me."
Hakuluk, 45, said he has been struggling with alcohol on and off since he was 14 or 15 years old growing up in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut.
"I drink out of spite, to deal with my anger issues and out of loneliness," he said. Hakuluk said alcohol was readily available to him from an early age in Rankin.
He said was given up for adoption within hours of being born.
"I knew my biological mother growing up, I just didn't realize she was my mother," Hakuluk said. "Then when I was about eight or nine years old, she told me she was my mother and that she gave me up for adoption because she didn't want me," he said. "That was the first really traumatic event in my life that I recall."
Hakuluk said he left his adopted family's home in Rankin Inlet at age 17.
"I was rebellious and a bit of a black sheep. I went to Thunder Bay, (Ont.). I hitch-hiked across the west," he said.
"I spent time in Winnipeg, B.C., Alberta and ended up in Fort Simpson."
He said he often struggled with booze but that he was a functioning alcoholic.
"I've been able to hold down jobs. I worked at a bed and breakfast in Fort Simpson, I farmed and I've worked in construction," he said. "But through it all, I've been an alcoholic. It really doesn't help in the long run. It puts a dent in your wallet and can land you in jail."
Hakuluk said he has quit drinking on two different occasions, once for four months and the other time for six months. But he says right now, he really doesn't want to give it up.
Hakukuk said he's been in jail several times but that didn't stop his drinking.
"There's either homemade brew on the inside or someone will get a bottle thrown over the fence," he said.
"So even though you're in jail, it doesn't mean you stop drinking."
Hakulak said that he's been stabbed several times in disputes that were alcohol related. He doesn't think his alcoholism is hereditary.
"My biological mother and father were social drinkers. They did not have the problems with alcohol that I do," he said.
Hakuluk said there does seem to be plenty of help for alcoholics in Yellowknife.
"I've attended AA meetings here. I have friends I can talk to about my issues surrounding alcohol," he said.
"I've had more difficulty getting help for my anger management issues."
The Salvation Army was able to provide him with pamphlets but he said he hasn't been able to receive any anger management counselling.
Hakuluk said he was charged with impaired driving back in October. He has a court date next month.
"I don't want to go to jail again. My short-term goals are to avoid jail and move to either Hay River, Fort Simpson or back to Rankin Inlet."
When asked why National Addiction Awareness Week is important, Hakukuk replied that it's a time for some to seriously consider kicking the habit.
"Some people are far worse off than me, they really need to stop," he said.
Lydia Bardak, executive director of the John Howard Society of the NWT, said she has tremendous sympathy for people who may have turned to alcohol to deal with rejection.
"Who hasn't been rejected at one time or another," she said. "It hurts and it's hard."
She said some people will deal with their anger by self-medicating, using alcohol in the absence of other supports.
"People carry a lot of baggage with them. They may have serious trauma that's never been dealt with or treated," Bardak said.
They may just not have anyone like a close friend or a family member that is able to take the time to listen to them and allows them to vent, Bardak said, adding she believes there is enough support for people suffering anger and rejection issues in Yellowknife. Counselling is available at the Salvation Army, the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre Stanton Territorial Hospital's psychiatric unit and from the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority. Bardak said people in correctional facilities also have access to anger management counselling.
Addictions Awareness Week runs Nov. 17 to 21.
