The Métis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
The organization has offices in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert and offers support to help people live addiction free healthy lifestyles.
Shane Lazarowich, who works in communications for MASCI, says the organization has evolved over the years to offer a lot more than straight addictions counselling.
“Definitely we are looking at things like mental health and the connection between mental health and addictions,” he says. “But also, as I kind of mentioned before, we’re looking into expanding a little bit into housing because the realization is a lot of these issues are linked.”
MASCI now treats a clientele suffering the harmful effects of a wide cross-section of drugs including alcohol, various opioids and crystal methamphetamine.
Regional Director Angela Impey says because of the severity of some the newer drugs, the path to recovery can be longer and more complex.
“With crystal meth it takes a year for the brain to heal after using that,” she says. “So, they are going to go through what is called post-acute withdrawal symptoms and other symptoms of withdrawal but it could definitely take a longer period of time to stabilize than somebody that’s coming off alcohol.”
MASCI will be holding a number of events over the coming months to mark its 50th year of operations.
The organization offers support services to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
It is operated by the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan.
(PHOTO: John Lagimodiere of Aboriginal Consulting Services provides a training seminar to MASCI employees in Prince Albert. Photo by Fraser Needham.)