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Volume 25, Issue 2 | Summer 2005
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In this issue:
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Insights From the Conference, PAC 2005
Listening, that most basic of addiction counsellor skills, is what I imagined myself doing when I signed up for AADAC's Professional Addictions Conference with its broad moniker, Insight Into Addiction. The organizers of PAC 2005 (as it was more popularly known) brought to Edmonton in early June a passionate group of presenters, ready to impart wisdom to 625 pairs of keenly attentive ears. In this issue of Developments, three AADAC conference delegates give readers just a taste of the vast array of information, insight, and inquiry that were available at PAC 2005. For those who would like to see more of the conference content (amounting to 63 sessions and more than 30 poster presentations), outlines or full content of many of the presentations are available on AADAC's website. - Deirdre Ah Shene, Editor
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Substance abuse and work: Culpability and caringBy Jenine Safioles, AADAC Project Coordinator Being at PAC was many things to me as an AADAC employee: an opportunity to learn, a chance to see colleagues and friends, and a break from the daily routine. PAC was also an opportunity for AADAC to nurture its employees. The responsibility of organizations to care for their employees was also a major theme in Dr. Paul Roman's keynote address at the conference, titled Opportunities and Challenges for Addressing Substance Abuse and Addiction in the Workplace.
Problem gambling treatment across culturesBy Deirdre Ah Shene, AADAC Writer-Editor Culturally Appropriate Treatment for Problem Gamblers was a small session that offered a marked contrast to the lecture style of the plenary sessions at PAC 2005. Janine Robinson of Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health approached her audience as a colleague speaking with peers: she remained open to learning from audience members, allowed audience comments to affect the flow of the session, and gave abundant opportunity for audience members to learn from one another. The style of the presentation seemed to exemplify Robinson's main point: flexibility, strong listening skills, openness to the ideas of others, and willingness to re-examine our presuppositions are essential in cross-cultural treatment.
Internet addiction: Knowing that we don't knowBy Sean Townsend, AADAC Writer-Editor Listening to the experts and looking at the information on display at PAC 2005, it was easy to be impressed by how much we know about addictions. We know that addiction is not a simple issue; it involves a wide array of biological, psychological and social factors. We've also moved beyond thinking about addictions strictly in terms of substance use; activities like gambling, shopping, sex and work are now being recognized as potentially problematic for some people. And we know a lot about how and why people change their behaviour, and about how we can help them live healthy lives. But sometimes, it's good to be reminded that we don't know it all. Which is why Paul Burke's session on Internet addiction, The Net Effect at Work, was such a refreshing jolt of uncertainty.
The Back PageOn The Back Page of Developments you can read about conferences, learning opportunities, special events, and recommended AADAC resources (always good and sometimes extraordinary value). If you want to advertise on The Back Page, contact the editor of Developments for rates and deadlines.
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