Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Nov 30/01) - An organizer for events in Inuvik calls National Addictions Awareness Week a success.

"We had more awareness than last year, a lot more activities," said Alfred Moses, community health representative for Inuvik.

"Everything worked out. We really didn't have any problems."

Activities kicked off Nov. 18 with a Sober Walk. The chief coroner of the NWT, Percy Kinney, put on talks within town during the week.

The RCMP arranged to have Serge LeClerc speak at both schools. LeClerc, who spent about 21 years in prison, has talked to many young people across the country on drug and alcohol abuse.

Other activities included a play at Ingamo Hall on bingo addiction, entitled, "Who really wins." An old-time dance attended by about 70 people at Ingamo Hall wrapped up the events on Saturday.

Moses thanked those who donated items or time during the week.

Staff Sgt. Mark Wharton confirmed on Monday that addictions are a serious concern within the community.

Wharton said that during a typical week, about 85 to 90 per cent of the complaints members handle deal with alcohol or drugs.

Wharton pointed out the RCMP took part in many events last week, and that for several years now members have taught the Drug Resistance Education Program to Grade 5 students at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school.

As well, a RCMP member sits on the Inuvik FAS Committee.

More funds sought

Meanwhile, the Inuvik Alcohol Committee, which operates the Turning Point treatment centre, continues efforts to secure more funding from the territorial department of health.

The committee receives funding from the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Board, and its total budget for April 1, 2001 to March 31, 2002 is $101,000.

Committee chair Derek Lindsay said this is not enough.

"You can not hire a decent counsellor and run a program for $101,000 a year," Lindsay said.

Lindsay has to handle administrative duties for Turning Point, which provides counselling services and makes referrals to other agencies within town, as well as to treatment centres in Hay River and Alberta.

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.

Letter sent

Lindsay explained IRHSSB has sent a letter to the minister of health in regards to alcohol and drug funding dollars for Inuvik.

"There is a basic lack of funding dollars for this community. It needs to be recognized at the territorial level," Lindsay said.

"The Department of Health gives the health board its money, and in it there's so much allocated for alcohol and drug (treatment) for the entire Beaufort Delta region," he said.

"My argument's always been, well, why do we get the same amount of dollars as Tuk gets, the same amount of dollars as Aklavik gets."

Lindsay pointed out Inuvik is a bigger community and handles overflow from neighbouring communities.