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12 The Independent, Canadian Statesman Weekender, Bowmanville, Saturday, April 9,1994 Handling It... By Lloyd Scott Study Group Offers Help for Parents with Teenagers "Noah was six hundred years old when the Flood began. As the waters receded, so goes the Hebrew story, the inhabitants of the Ark spread out across the land and multiplied. Of all these animals, Noah loved the goats best and he enjoyed watching them as they scampered freely over the rocky hillsides. One goat acted unusually unusually playful and Noah followed him to a tree. There he saw the goat eat some grapes that caused the animal animal to jump and frolic about. Hot and thirsty, Noah followed the example of the goat and drank the sweet juice from the grapes. He fell into a merry mood and started singing a song. On the way home, Noah somehow lost his clothes and fell fast asleep outside his house. He awoke the next morning, morning, told the story to his sons, and re- Distress Centre Telephone Lines Are Answered 24 Hours a Day The next training workshop to become become a volunteer peer counsellor with Distress Centre Durham's 24- hour peer counselling helpline are May 29 and June 5, 1994 or September September 25 and October 2, 1994 or November November 27 and December 4, 1994. To be eligible for training, you must be 21 years old or older (for the adult line) or 18-21 years old (to work on the youth line). We carefully select empathetic, non-judgmental, responsible responsible individuals and provide intensive intensive training in active listening skills and crisis counselling/intervention techniques. These techniques will benefit in your personal and professional professional lives, not just on our phones. If you are interested in joining a vibrant team of staff and volunteers dedicated to helping callers throughout throughout Durham region find their own solutions solutions to their problems, stressors and personal conflicts, call us now for an application 723-4461. Training registration is limited. The commitment we require is 16- 20 hours per month, (flexible according according to your schedule), including one overnight shift, from our central Oshawa location. (Youthliners are not required to do overnights). Sponsors Camp For Asthmatic Kids This year, the Lung Association of Durham Region will again sponsor a limited number of children with asthma asthma or other respiratory problems to the Asthma Society's two week residential residential Camp at Camp Couchiching, near Orillia. Located on the eastern shore of Lake Couchiching, the Camp's natural natural setting has provided fun filled experiences experiences and learning opportunities to thousands of children for over 40 years. Instructional programs are provided provided in a wide variety of land and water activities including tennis, baseball, soccer, swimming, canoeing, canoeing, drama, arts and crafts and sailing. sailing. The Asthma Camp will be held at Camp Couchiching from Wednesday, July 6th to Wednesday, July 20th and is open to children from seven to fifteen fifteen years of age. Campers arc bused to and from Camp Couchiching from a central location in Toronto. The Lung Association of Durham Region will subsidize total Camp fees for children from Durham Region Region to a maximum of 87% (dependent (dependent upon individual family circumstances). circumstances). For more information, call the Lung Association in Oshawa at 905- 436-1046. trieved the vine to be planted in their garden. A Romanian version of the story adds that when Noah started planting the vine, the Devil appeared and assisted assisted him. The Devil killed the goat and poured its blood on the roots of the vine in remembrance of the discovery. discovery. Next the Devil watered the roots with the blood of a lion and then with the blood of a swine. Thus, whenever a man drinks a little wine, he gets merry and frolics like a little kid. If he drinks a little more, he becomes becomes flushed and roars like a lion. Over-indulgence will cause him to wallow in the mire like a pig. For alcohol alcohol will surely turn a man into a beast." (This story is from a book titled, titled, Intoxication: Life in Pursuit of Artificial Paradise by Dr. Ronald Siegel.) Siegel.) ******** An informal poll taken among my colleagues indicates that at least half the couples they see acknowledge (however reluctantly) a drinking problem (commonly die husband's). His (or her) "drinking problem" (a gentle euphemism hiding a much harsher addiction reality) is hard for most families to talk about. It's a family secret known to everyone that no one is supposed to openly acknowledge. acknowledge. Masks hide die secret family shame. Problem-drinkers can't accept honest feedback about their drinking even from their families, those they trust the most, those they may be hurting the most by their drinking. They don't know how to say no to alcohol, alcohol, how to moderate their consumption,- consumption,- and don't understand their behavior when they're drinking, though they believe they do. Problem-drinkers Problem-drinkers suffer from delusions. In ten years of family counselling - seeing couples, families and their children of all ages - I've seen a mere handful in which drugs such as pot or cocaine have been considered problems. Serious alcohol-related family and emotional problems, on the other hand, are a prominent theme in my practice every day. I agree with Neil Boyd, author of the book High Society, a study of drugs in our society, that there are no necessarily bad drugs, but that there are a great many abusive, addictive relationships with drugs, particularly prescription drugs and alcohol. Furthermore, Furthermore, "the pursuit of drugs - whether caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, opium, marijuana, cocaine or heroin - is universal and inescapable. It is to be found across time and species, and in the private lives of presidents and citizens alike" (from the book, Intoxication). Intoxication). Drugs to change how people feel and to alter moods can never be eradicated. eradicated. Some researchers even describe describe the universal desire for mood change as a "fourth drive", as unstoppable unstoppable as our drives for food, drink and sex. ******** Perhaps through technology, we can some day design non-addictive intoxicants, or better still eliminate our dangerous susceptibility to drug misuse and abuse, until that time comes, however, we need to look more closely at our relationships with drugs. The best place to start this wake-up call is with our relationships with alcohol. Trent University at Durham College Summer 1994 Complete a Trent degree in Oshawa. Day or evening summer courses are offered in the following terms: 8 weeks: 2 May-29 June 12 weeks: 2 May-27 July 6 weeks: 4 July-16 August For information or a brochure call: (905) 723-9747 or (705) 740-1229 The lion's roar is certainly disturbing disturbing our sleep these days and the beast is on the loose. Lloyd Scott is a marriage and family family counsellor in private practice in Oshawa and in the Orono Medical Centre. He welcomes letters from readers. Write him in confidence at this newspaper, The Canadian Statesman, Statesman, P.O. Box 190, Bowmanville, Ont. L1C3K9. I'm on your side: Resolving conflict conflict with your teenage son or daughter A study group entitled: "I'm on your side: Resolving Conflict with your Teenage Son or Daughter will introduce concepts and methods which will result in more harmonious parent/child relationships. The difference difference between short-sighted and long- range parenting will be discussed, as well as information about how teenagers teenagers can be given the legacy of courage, courage, confidence and skills to become happy, successful adults. The Family Education Resource Centre of Durham House is offering this eight session study group for parents parents of teenagers. This group will be offered at M.J. Hobbs Senior Public School, R.R. #1 Hampton. Starting Wednesday, April 27, 1994 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., the cost for this study group is $48.00 per person, plus a text book fee of $13.50. For information and to register please call the Family Resource Centre Centre at 579-2021. Pre-registration is required. required. COMPOSTER SAIE OF THE SEASON Not only can you buy a new composter for just $ 15, but you can learn how to compost at one of Durham Region's free How-To Compost Workshops. Expert staff will be on hand to demonstrate the proper care and maintenance of your composter at the following location. Rekker's Garden gallery (905) 623-2300 2 km west of Bowmanville, Hwy. #2 Saturday April 9, 9 a.m - 3 p.m. For more information on Composting or Grasscycling please contact the Durham Region Works Department at (905) 668-7721 or call the Compost Hotline at 1-800-667-5671 PURCHASE A COMPOSTER FOR JUST $ 15 »* DUe */. Ontario Funded In part by the Ministry of Environment and Energy mSm ■DURHAM-