Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Aug 11/00) - A new addictions treatment program has been introduced in Fort Simpson.

Six women from various Deh Cho communities enrolled in the three-week mobile program that wraps up Sunday, said Minnie Letcher, director of community programs and services for Deh Cho Health and Social Services (DCHSS).

DCHSS had been hoping for between eight and 12 participants, and actually had 12 people registered at one point, but half dropped out before the July 24 starting date, Letcher said.

The program, facilitated by counsellors Rebecca Martel, Esther Giroux, elder Madge McRee and DCHSS staff, is "like a regular treatment program ... but it's mobile, for the region," said Letcher.

The women are staying in the student residence where they are involved in group and individual counselling daily, she said.

According to Letcher, when Northern Addiction Services was closed in Yellowknife consultations were held with drug and alcohol counsellors. One of the recommendations was to have gender-specific programming like that offered through the mobile treatment program, she said.

"This is a pilot project in that sense that, is this a process that will actually work," she explained.

"I think there will be follow-up sessions to this ... it has to be assessed and evaluated. Thus far the evaluations have been quite good."