No Laughing Matter

Tuesday, 19 November 2013 at 05:30

With a new program starting this month, the Cynthia Anne Centre for Addictions isn't finding humour in the Rob Ford fiasco

Is addiction creating a monster in your house?

The Cynthia Anne Centre for Addictions is running the Monster in the House Chronicles.

Program Director Bill Baleka explains the premise of the program, "It's an allegory to express or explain what people are going through with their emotional struggles, as well as how those struggles contribute to those dependence on substances."

Baleka says the program is not just for those battling addiction. "Well in the past, we've had social workers, nurses and various professionals, as well as individuals who have family members struggling with issues of substance abuse and behavioural problems, as well as the individuals themselves. So it's opened up quite a lot of opportunities to the community at large."

Substance abuse has made international headlines recently as the world seems fixated on Rob Ford's past alcohol and crack cocaine use. It's given late night show hosts, and comedy shows like Saturday Night Live plenty of material. However, Baleka doesn't find a lot of humour in the situation saying, "A lot of people like to watch a train wreck in slow motion so you can see what is happening. Personally, I don't find it is something to poke fun of. I think it's a very serious matter and you have to think about what he must be going through...not that there is any justification for his behaviour, but there is an explanation there must be something in his life he has experienced (to lead him to substance abuse)...in an interview he had mentioned is feeling the effects of the loss of his father, maybe that had a significant impact on him. Who knows what's going on behind closed doors?"

But Baleka says one positive, if there is one to be taken out of the Rob Ford fiasco is this: "It shows it doesn't matter who you are, how old you are, your gender, your background...anyone can become susceptible to substance abuse given opportunity and a certain set of circumstances."

Anyone interested can attend a free information session on the Monster in the House Chronicles on Wednesday night at Fanshawe College in Woodstock at 7PM.

Workshops in the program begin November 27th.

If you're interested, you can call and register at 519-788-2508, or call Operation Sharing at 519-539-3361.