Daniel MacIsaac
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Nov 15/99) - Dennis Inglangasuk, the executive director of Turning Point, says an action-packed week lies in store for the town as Inuvik acknowledges Addiction Awareness Week.

"All government agencies and organizations with a stake in it are doing their part," he said.

The week kicked off yesterday with a "sober walk" down the main street, Mackenzie Road, ending with refreshments at Ingamo Friendship Hall, where a candlelight vigil took place last night.

Inglangasuk said the major focus of the week is awareness; letting the community know that help is available for both themselves and their loved ones.

He said the week would include agency representatives going into the schools to talk about what addiction means.

"They'll be stressing the benefits of living addiction-free lives and highlighting their own experiences," he said.

As Turning Point director, Inglangasuk sees both sides of addiction, dealing with the effects of drug and alcohol abuse as well as providing shelter and support to individuals who have been to prison and who are free on early-release programs.

"Alcohol remains the number one addiction -- or abuse, anyway," he said. "We see marijuana and cocaine, too, but alcohol is the biggest."

Turning Point is funded by the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Board and the territorial and federal Departments of Justice, but Inglangasuk said the organization is looking for more money to expand its services, including increasing its current capacity of 12 beds and its existing ability to provide counselling.

He added that increased services might allow Turning Point to expand from an all-male facility to helping women, too.

He said there certainly isn't a shortage of demand for Turning Point's services, the only other agency that performs comparable duties is the Salvation Army in Yellowknife.

"I'd like to say, however," said Inglangasuk, "that we've always had strong support from the community agencies and work closely with Ingamo Hall and as a referral for people in the community on addictions counselling."

Inglangasuk said that besides the agencies, organizations like the town, the Gwich'in Tribal Council and the Inuvialuit Development Corporation are also helping support this week's events.

He said with that kind of help, Turning Point's message can only get stronger.