Watching the news and social media is very troubling with the addiction problem in British Columbia. The area of the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver is ground zero for a majority of all the serious drug related problems. My experience began in 1992 when I was hired as a Financial Assistance Worker with the provincial government of British Columbia. I was to report to 666 East Hastings Street for training March 2nd, 1992. I had the opportunity to work for the next 12 years in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver in various positions. I had the opportunity to speak to thousands of individuals who were involved in addictions.
The years of 1992 to 2003 allowed me to understand why individuals became addicted, the various predicaments that landed them in Canada’s poorest postal code. Each individual had a story to tell me of their personal struggles with life. Almost all turned to a substance that allowed them to escape the reality of their pain and suffering. Addiction would take over their lives and lead to multiple barriers to their functioning in society.
These individuals became a challenge to me to see if I could make a change in their lives and allow them to return to society as a functioning and positive citizen. I was successful as I treated everyone with equal respect and showed empathy for their life predicament. Opening doors of opportunities for these individuals as I had growing up was the way to show them the road. I believed everyone should have access to all life has to offer and I was successful in getting thousands of people back to where they dreamed to be.
Once a problem is shared and identified I would study community resources and find the appropriate service to help the individual. I developed a guide of 80,000 resources in British Columbia and used it to help my clients get off of the poverty train. Breaking the generational struggle to get out and start a new life began for my clients. I worked very closely with The Salvation Army at the time referring many to their addiction programs. Many success stories cam from this. I will share success and struggles of clients in future posts.
The time for me to move on came in 2004 when I saw no future for myself to continue helping my clients working within the government setting. I turned to work with The Salvation army in 2004 to 2011 where I started out at the street level with my past clients in the Downtown Eastside. Helping them with the basic needs to survive and once again use my directory of community services. The service I provided became so popular that it was noticed by many. In 2005 I was posed with a new challenge of taking over for the Social Worker in Detox. Never being an addict I was now going to the root of the addiction pandemic in the Downtown Eastside. I studied all my resources in the Addiction and Mental Health field knowing I would be posed with some of the toughest life issues.
My time as a Detox Social Worker came with eye opening situations. In my 4 years in the detox I interviewed 6700 individuals. At the time I came to detox there was a 10% success rate once I finished it was over 60% success.
Of the 6700 individuals interviewed I referred over 3700 to community resources. All 3700 never came back to detox or their addictions 5 years after. The result was 3700 individuals in 4 years taken off of the streets of the Downtiwn Eastside of Vancouver. Knowing your resources and understanding what a human goes through when they are addicted is the secret of success. In my time as a Addiction Detox Social Worker I saw the development of a safe injection site, prescribed opiates and many other programs of harm reduction. I rarely would send anyone to these sources, they were offered to the 3000 that did not want to pursue a change in their lives as the pain was to great. Many are not alive today.
I followed a strict assessment and refferal process:
- All need to complete detox
- All must attend some sort of addiction treatment that fits their current situation.
- All must have a plan for post addiction treatment to deal with the root cause of their need to turn to addictions.
- A plan of action for housing, employment and re-uniting with loved ones.
- Ongoing support for life either by therapy, marriage, family re-unification.
The group of individuals I interviewed 99.7% became addicted due to consequnces of not being able to deal with an abusive situation that they could not share or comprehend. I only interviewed 6 individuals that chose to use a substance at a party due to peer pressure and it took over their life as an addiction.
At the time the main substance of choice was cocaine at 70% and heroin at 30% many were using many other subtances as combinations to these two main drugs of choice.
A total of 35% weere dealing from HIV or Hepatitis diagnosis.
In 2007 I took an another challenge that would lead to helping more individuals. I took over as the Human Resources Manager at The Salvation Army. I was given the chnce to hire workers and I hired 35% of the recovered addicts to work for The Salvation Arm. Many continue to work their and lead productive and happy lives.
Before I left The Downtown Eastside I wrote “The Addiction Guide” published in 2011 to assist detox social workers in assessment and referral.
In closing everyone needs to know these individuals you hear that are lossing their battle with addictions by many substances are due to unresolved issues in their lives. Take the time to reach out and simply ask what has happened and look for resources to help them. There is hope if we can continue to help 60% we will make major changes. Currently the system is back to 10%.
Also remember increased funding will only enable more individuals to become addicted. Funding should be sent to therapist, counsellors, and community workers to help individuals. Services in addictions treatment should be FREE for those reaching out, waitlists are unacceptable! Never make an addict wait for treatment they will die. When they have the courage to reach out they need help then and now.
Also 70% of all addiction treatment programs are geared to Men and women get 30% of resources. This should be equal for both.
I developed MyHealthCRM.com for all professionals and individuals who want to know where are all these resources. There is a cost as I get no funding from any source and I have made my life goal to help as many people in life as possible.
questions feel free to email me at myhealthcrm@gmail.com or the addictionguide@gmail.com
thank you for taking the time to read my post and sorry for any grammar or spelling mistakes.
Stan Karbowiak
