Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 12/01) - Increased economic activity due to oil and gas exploration in the Delta may be increasing problems associated with alcohol, drugs and gambling.

"It hasn't decreased," said Derek Lindsay.

Lindsay is chair of the Inuvik Alcohol Committee, which runs Turning Point, a treatment centre in Inuvik that offers intervention and counselling services.

"There's still the same amount of people, if not more, who've got problems with alcohol and drug abuse, whatever."

Bob Kelly, an outreach worker and counsellor at Turning Point, said in December he was seeing about 50 clients a month and now sees an average of 30, not counting people he sees on a regular, ongoing basis.

"The need right now has sort of slowed down a bit, but it varies," Kelly said, noting a trend in the problems many of his clients are facing.

"There's more alcohol and marijuana consumption, and how it impacts on the family unit," he said. "I do notice probably carry-over problems from when they had their last economic boom here in the 1970s.

"We're seeing the results, the kids are growing up. There's still that lingering past experience from the last economic boom."

Kelly predicted that the number of clients will increase once the new season gets under way for oil and gas exploration in the Delta.

Referrals offered

In addition to counselling services, Turning Point makes referrals to other agencies in town, as well as treatment centres in Hay River and Alberta.

The Inuvik Alcohol Committee has been lobbying the territorial government for enough money so they can operate a 30-day treatment program.

However, as Lindsay explained, Turning Point is struggling to operate with a total budget of $101,000 for April 1, 2001 to March 31, 2002.

The committee receives funding from the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Board.

Lindsay said $101,000 doesn't go far, especially when overhead such as rent and utilities are factored in.

Turning Point's executive director was let go in mid-October due to lack of funds. As well, earlier this year Friends of Delta House, a non-profit organization established to raise funds for the Inuvik Alcohol Committee, began holding bingos to raise funds.

Lindsay said that by not having a 30-day treatment program in the Inuvik region, a lot of money is wasted on travel expenses and fees for using outside facilities.

"It's too much. We can still do it here cheaper."

Though reluctant to say much on the funding issue, Kelly agreed with Lindsay that more community support is needed.

"Being the only worker here, sometimes it gets pretty hectic," Kelly said.

"It would be sad if the doors to Turning Point closed, because the organization is very needed."