Keewaytinook Okimakanak works to address prescription drug abuse

Followed by a rise in prescription drug abuse a team of Keewaytinook Okimakanak (KO) staff from the health department were called in to deliver a two and a half day workshop on prescription drug abuse in Muskrat Dam.
The theme of the workshop was “Answering the cry for help – confronting prescription drug abuse in our communities.”
The presentation was on the alarming problem of prescribed drugs (medicines) that are used abusively by the addicted.
The workshop was facilitated for the Wee Che He Wako-Gamik Family Treatment Centre which serves the Nishnawbe Aski Nation communities and for the community of Muskrat Dam.
There were two main reasons why the workshop was delivered. The first was there is a community need. The second was to create a working relationship between KO mental health and the Wee Che He Wayo Family Treatment Centre for the KO communities.
The KO Health Team consisted of myself, the KO health director, Sally Bunting, mental health therapist, Gary Quequish, capacity builder trainer and mental health therapist, Martha Kakegamic and Martha’s daughter Nadine Kakegamic.
Darcy Beardy of Muskrat Dam First Nation welcomed the facilitators and the participants.
“If we can reach one person to deal with their addiction through this workshop that person will inspire others to deal with their addictions,” Beardy said.
This workshop centered on Martha, a single mother who got into prescription drug abuse and how she got out of it. She presented her DVD that tells of her addiction and her recovery. Her seven year old, Nadine also did her presentation from a child’s perspective which was quite moving and powerful.
“Parents listen to your kids. We know what’s going on,” the youth said.
Bunting, a grandmother, presented how she contributed to her daughter’s lifestyle unknowingly. She never took drugs or alcohol at any length of time. She was never addicted to them. Rather her focus and concentration was on work. She was chief twice in her community of North Spirit Lake and worked for Nodin Services for some time in the previous years. In her sharing time, she discovered it was her personal life style and lack of time with her children that led her children into a world of mood-altering substances.
Gary Quequish presented more of the clinical side of the prescription drugs (pain killers) that are abused. He reminded the workshop participants that addiction of any kind whether alcohol, drugs, gambling is not a problem, but a result and symptom of a problem. He told his personal story as to why he was the way he was before, having dealt with the root source -- the real problem that was feeding his lifestyle of addiction.
“I believe that working together with other service agencies the clients will benefit,” said Jeannie Duncan, executive director for the Wee Che He Wayo Gamik Family Treatment Centre. “We need to come up with training opportunities that will really educate our people about the prescription drug abuse and its negative impacts. We cannot afford to think that it’s impossible to help those who are addicted to prescription drug abuse.”
Susan Beardy, treatment director for the Wee Che He Wayo Gamik Family Treatment Centre, said in their referrals, they are beginning to deal with prescription drug abuse issues.
“It takes more effort and energy in our human resources unit to deal with the withdraws of our referrals in their six-week placement,” she said. “The workshop was an eye opener for me. Education and awareness about the issue would really help our staff, front-line workers and the affected families.”
Brenda Beardy, community health director for Muskrat Dam, attended the workshop.
“We cannot hide the problem. We cannot deny the problem” she said. “It affects the whole family when one family member has addiction issues and even the community.”
There were more than 20 participants to the workshop. It was held at the Wee Che He Wayo Gamik Family Treatment Centre at the time when the centre was on a break between the intake sessions.
Irene Ross, Muskrat Dam council member, was present in all the sessions. Dr. Greg Ross, the dean of Northern Ontario School of Medicine also attended part of the workshop. Virginia Beardy, a social worker from the community, assisted in the workshop.