Native AA uses preventive medicine

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A Native Alcoholics Anonymous group in Fort McMurray will use preventive medicine to help Native people deal with their problems before they turn to drugs and alcohol.

The group was recently started by the Nistawoyou Friendship Center in the northern city. Referral worker Lorraine Albert is helping to get the program off the gowned.

"Too often we wait until something is a problem and then we try and solve it. Why not take care of things before they become a problem?" she said.

"We shouldn't wait until something is a problem before we do something about it. I would rather see a person take care of themselves now instead of coming in when they're really sick and down and out.

"The Native AA program would help Native people feel free to talk. When you're surrounded by Native people it's easier to talk than when there's some non-Native people around," Albert added.

There are six people in the group now but she hopes it will expand.

"McMurray's a party town. I used to love here before and I used to party. Do I could see how people make big money and they tend to drink a lot," said Albert, who was previously a nursing student.

By introducing a monthly dry dance and other activities.

By introducing a monthly dry dance and other activites the center hopes to change the attitude some people have that they must drink to have fun, she said.

The message that fun can be had "without being drunk or stoned will be especially aimed at younger kids and teenagers," she said. With that goal in mind a group of teenagers headed to Anzac this past weekend to learn of the effects of substance abuse.

Albert is an advocate for troubled Native people, and refers alcoholics, drug abusers and other people needing counseling to the proper agencies and organizations.

"Even though McMurray is prosperous there's still people here who are having a rough go in life, especially those, who are recently separated or living on welfare and having a hard time making ends meet," she said.

But she hopes the AA group will help Native people to come out with their problems before they become too serious, and that the friendship center will help them realize they do not have to drink to have fun.