Karen Lander
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 22/99) - Only four Northerners have called a new, national toll-free help-line that was launched in late January to assist people with concerns about alcohol and substance abuse.

"The calls were mainly concerns about alcohol," said Elaine, a counsellor for Motherisk, who answered the phone when a call was placed to the help-line.

The help-line, launched by Motherisk -- a program at the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children that provides information to pregnant mothers -- and funded by the Brewers Association of Canada, was set up to answer questions and give advice to people with concerns about alcohol and substance abuse. More than 40 people attended the official launching, which was held Jan. 22 at the Explorer Hotel in Yellowknife.

Guest speaker Dr. Gideon Koren, from Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, told the crowd the help-line would be able to provide information about alcohol and substance abuse to expectant or breastfeeding mother.

Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew also attended the launching. She spoke about the possibility of forming a national committee on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects. According to pediatrician Dr. Nicole Chatel, approximately 90 youth across the Kitikmeot region, between the ages of 15 and 20, are affected by FAS and the numbers continue to grow. Chatel went on to say the North has some of the highest alcohol consumption statistics in the country.

News of the help-line was welcomed by health officials in many Northern communities. Kugluktuk's supervisor of health programs, Barbra Harvey, said, "It never hurts to have another resource."

Marilyn Harry, from the Tree of Peace in Yellowknife, was also quite pleased with the new help-line.

"I think it's great. The more stats they get, the more they'll get to know what they need. It will be an awareness for Northern people, educate the people."

Harry also suggested that some things still needed in the North include a detox centre with a medical component -- where cocaine and marijuana users could be properly detoxified -- and programs for mothers and children as part of prevention education on FAS/FAE.

Angela Libby, a youth advocate worker from Hay River, responded to Harry's remarks.

"I think it's excellent. You can't have enough outreach workers out there, especially 24 hours a day. I support it 100 per cent."