Hay River Reserve (Nov 08/04) - Mike Fraser Jr. knows all about the dangers of alcohol and drugs.

The 28-year-old Hay River Reserve resident, who is originally from Edmonton, began using marijuana and alcohol when he was 12 and crack cocaine a year ago.

"It was everything," he said. "It just escalates."

Fraser says drugs and alcohol, which he abused while living in the North as well as various southern locations, led to problems communicating with people around him and feelings of guilt and remorse.

Eventually, he sought treatment for marijuana addiction and alcoholism six years ago and then again three years ago.

After the second round of treatment, he stayed sober for almost two years.

Fraser, the father of a young daughter, says he came back to the North from Edmonton in November of last year to reunite with his family. He has lived in the NWT on and off for about six years. In mid-September he successfully completed his third treatment program, this time at the Nats'ejee K'eh Alcohol and Drug Treatment Centre on the Hay River Reserve.

Fraser says he has now been drug and alcohol-free for several months, although he adds, "There are days when you want to have a hoot of weed or a bottle of beer or smoke some cocaine."

Speaking in a matter-of-fact but confident tone, he says he is not afraid to face his problems. Some people hold in the anger and shame until it explodes, he noted.

Fraser describes crack cocaine as a five to 10-minute high, depending on a person's tolerance. "It was just an escape."

However, as he explained, he didn't use it every day. Instead, he would indulge once a month for one or two days, which would cost him as much as $500. Fraser says he would always try to pay his bills and buy food, despite spending so much money on crack cocaine.

"Towards the end, it was pretty rough," he admitted.

The recovering addict believes more awareness is needed about how alcohol and crack cocaine affect communities and families.

He also thinks more family interventions, drug and alcohol workshops and drug education in schools would help others in the same predicament. Since returning North, he has organized some meetings of Cocaine Anonymous.

Fraser says he is not afraid to talk publicly about drug abuse because being honest with yourself and the people around you is the first major step in dealing with the problem.

"I'm not afraid of what people might think," he said.