Counsellors to help fight drug/alcohol abuse
It had all the hallmarks of a graduation, complete with caps and gowns. But today’s ceremony at the University of West Indies campus highlighted the extraordinary dedication of one group of Belizeans who are determined to save lives. News Five’s Janelle Chanona explains.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
This morning eighteen soldiers were added to the forces fighting drug and alcohol abuse in Belize. Through the UK-based National Children’s Home and the University of the West Indies School of Continuing Studies, the men and women successfully completed an intensive six week introduction course to substance abuse counselling.
Leslie Anne Nunez,
“To all of you that come in contact with me, I wish you death and suffering. Allow me to introduce myself: I am the disease of addiction, alcoholism, and drugs. … I am such a hated disease and yet I do not come uninvited. You choose to have me. So many have chosen me over reality, peace, and serenity.”
The men and women are not fully fledged counsellors, but according to program coordinator Joann George, participants will be able to guide clients to proper treatment options.
Joann George, Coordinator
“Listening, questioning, doing basic assessments, and doing simple treatments plans. So it was not anything that had to do with therapy, but mostly getting people to acknowledge that they have a problem and referring them when necessary; getting them to do simple things to get them out of the situation that they are in.”
Janelle Chanona
“What is the momentum you’re after?”
Joann George
“The main aim was really enhancing skills, creating a deeper awareness of the issue of addiction as a disease and not necessarily as a failure of will, erasing some of the misconceptions that people have about addiction and people who are dependent on people who use substances.”
Most of the graduates already work with local agencies that offer counselling services. Armed with their new skills, they’re ready to make a difference.
Sypreano Smith, Graduate
“It’s overwhelming to come on a course like this and see substance abuse and addiction as a disease and go back and work with people who are affecting with addiction. And the Belize Defence Force, which I am a member of, is no stranger to issues that are associated with substance abuse. So I am equipped to go back and assist others in making a difference in their lives so that we could have a better force.”
Tyrone Everitt, Graduate
“A lot of our parents are stumbling, a lot of parents are substance abusers themselves, ourselves and we don’t even know it; we have to be aware of that. And I think that we have been able to be well equipped with the facilitators of these tools that we can now go out and help parents also.”
As part of today’s ceremony, facilitators lit the Candle of Commitment to symbolize a vow to save lives from the perils of addiction. Later this year N.C.H. and UWI will team up again to offer a grade two course in substance abuse counselling. Reporting for News Five, I am Janelle Chanona.
During today’s ceremony, participants who successfully completed a separate course on disaster and emergency counselling were also recognized for their achievement.
