Promoting drug free fun
National Addictions Awareness Week offers
week of community events
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Thursday, November 17, 2016
INUVIK
For Joey Amos, National Addictions Awareness Week is a reminder of where he once was and where he is now.
Community Health Representative Crystal Navratil encourages people to come out and support National Addictions Awareness Week. Several events will be happening around town, designed to show people there are many ways to have fun while sober. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo
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"It's important for me to be reminding myself of where I was at one point in my life, and how I've come to be sober and clean for the last 14 years," said Amos, who is manager of the John Wayne Kiktorak Centre.
Events throughout the next week will show people there are ways to have fun while being sober and to bring the community together.
Amos struggled with alcohol and marijuana earlier in his life. National Addictions Awareness Week shows people there are resources available if they or family members are struggling with addiction, he said.
"(Addiction) impacts not only the addict but the family too," said Amos.
More than 20 community members and organization representatives gathered to plan National Addictions Awareness Week activities.
"They just kept coming in and coming in," said Community Health Representative Crystal Navratil. "There's lots of concern out there and lots of people who want to get together and put events on and get the word out there."
Events will kick off on Nov. 20, with a sober walk starting at 2 p.m. leaving from the post office and proceeding to Ingamo Hall. There, speakers will talk about addiction, followed by a candlelight vigil, refreshments and food.
Throughout the week, more activities will celebrate sobriety and show there are resources for dealing with addiction, from without-ice curling to dances and more.
"(It's) to honour those who are suffering and honour those who have recovered," said Navratil.
Addictions isn't limited to drugs and alcohol, either, she added. Other examples of addictions could be gambling, sugar, even videogames.
"We're providing opportunities to show people that they can lead a sober life and still have fun and still enjoy life, and those drugs and alcohol or whatever the addiction is are not needed," she said.
"It's planting seeds in people's head. It's showing people you don't need alcohol to run your life."
She hopes to see a good turnout for the week's events, which are usually well-supported in Inuvik.
"We really get the community involved," said Navratil.
