‘Everything in our communities is impacted by addictions’: Hopkins

January 19, 2016
Carol Hopkins, Executive Director of the National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation, spoke to participants about youth and addictions at the 'Awakening the Nation -- Renewing the Spirit' health conference hosted by the Union of Ontario Indians.
Carol Hopkins, Executive Director of the National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation, spoke to participants about youth and addictions at the ‘Awakening the Nation — Renewing the Spirit’ health conference hosted by the Union of Ontario Indians.

By Marci Becking

SAULT STE. MARIE — “We tend to approach young people with a little bit of our own frustration,” says Carol Hopkins who spoke to some 150 participants about youth and addictions at the “Awakening the Nation — Renewing the Spirit” conference held Jan. 19.

She asked the group — how do your experiences and perceptions shape our relationship with youth?   Conference participants talked about how their perception is different from a youth perception on this issues and this causes problems.

“If we think that our young people are the problems in our schools, homes and community – and then ship them off somewhere to a treatment centre…this way isn’t going to continue to work,” says Hopkins.  “Everything in our communities is impacted by addictions.”

Hopkins spoke about the impact of addiction.

“Typically tolerance is prominent and a withdrawal syndrome frequently occurs when substance use is interrupted,” says Hopkins.  “The life of a person with an addiction may be dominated by substance use to the virtual exclusion of all other activities and responsibilities.  There is also an impact on family, community, and society as well as the individual.”

“Examine your perspective,” says Hopkins.  “Abstinence is our goal.  But let’s be realistic.  Instead of saying ‘don’t do this, don’t do that’ we have to start with talking about the things that we want them to do and have and be.”

“If a person with diabetes doesn’t eat or exercise — at the end of the day they still get their insulin.  Why should this be different for someone who is trying to end their addiction?” says Hopkins.  “The people who do the best in treatment are the people who have been in and out seven times.  We need to have some empathy for these people.”

Carol Hopkins is the Executive Director of the National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation.  Her strength in the health profession is the ability to blend western and native traditional health & healing practices in a competent and responsive manner.