Derek Neary
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 16/98) - In a dark brown building along 101 Street in Fort Simpson is the Fresh Start addictions program.

This is the front line for anybody in the community who is seeking to combat their dependency on drugs or alcohol.

Those who venture into the building and enter into the program will meet counsellor Pat Switzer, someone who has fought off the grip alcohol once held on her life.

Switzer, who co-ordinates the Fresh Start program, has been sober for more than 14 years. Yet, she still cannot say she is a recovered alcoholic who won't take another drink in her lifetime.

"No, that never happens. I can't guarantee that," she said. "I stay sober one day at a time."

Now, her goal is to help others do the same. Some alcoholics and addicts in the community are well aware of the program and come in on their own. Others confide in someone from social services and get a referral.

The first visit usually consists of an information session, Switzer said. She defines alcoholism, its signs, its consequences and the prognosis.

An appointment is made for another visit. Clients who continue to return are truly seeking help, she noted. Objectives are set, preferably by the clients themselves. She suggests the first goal should be to stay sober the next day.

"What can you do when the craving hits?" she asks.

Again, the client is expected to come up with their own answers. The most common are to call a sober friend, come to the Fresh Start office for coffee or attend an AA meeting, which are held twice-weekly in the community.

The Fresh Start program consists of one-on-one counselling and, occasionally, group therapy as well.

"We promote healing here... you have to heal past hurts," she said. "Healing is so important. I can't stress it enough."

For some, healing comes through religion. For others, it comes from attending workshops, self-help books and counselling.

For Switzer, the impetus to break away from alcohol came after constant depression and feeling worthless.

"I guess it was just having had enough, that's all. You know, enough is enough, something's got to change," she recalled.

After three months of sobriety, she felt a strong urge to help others. Her counsellor recommended that she wait until her second anniversary before enroling in school. She waited, but still chose to pursue a social work diploma.

Several years later, she says she finds herself very busy at Fresh Start on some days, while other days are slower. As for the program's success rate, well, there are no telling statistics to be kept, she said.

"How can you gauge that? Is it at one year (of sobriety)? Five years? Twenty-five years?" she asks, adding some people have relapses after two decades. "There's no way to measure it, really and truly."

Job satisfaction, on the other hand, can be gauged by her response to the question, "Do you enjoy the working here?"

"Yes, absolutely," she said. "It's so rewarding."