Addiction therapist works in the Powell River area

National Addictions Awareness Week is November 24 to 30.

Social isolation, trauma, boredom, chronic pain and stress are just a few examples as to why people struggle with or use substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs or illicit drugs.

Clinical social work

Henrik Elzinga is a registered social worker (RSW) and now works as a clinical social worker with VK Wellness Initiative, a medical health centre in the qathet region. The Peak spoke to Elzinga about his experiences out in the field and what approaches he uses in his practice.

"I've worked in treatment centres and second-stage housing that comes after treatment," said Elzinga. "Detox is the medical part to make sure people are safe coming off drugs and alcohol; you can actually die and have seizures."

After this stage, Elzinga said people usually move into either a treatment centre and/or second-stage housing.

"I did that work for a long time as a social worker, and now the work I do is clinical social work, so it's more therapy, sitting and talking with people, often addressing trauma."

Why is a person in pain?

Elzinga said his approach depends on an individual's needs and where they are at in their life at the moment.

"We can talk about the drinking and/or using, sure, but then, we can also talk about what drives the drinking and the using," said Elzinga. "I don't [necessarily] ask why the addiction, but why [is the person] in pain; sometimes the addiction is only a symptom of something else."

Support for seniors and every demographic

Elzinga spent years as a social worker helping people get into treatment and setting up their lives, but now his focus is more personal clinical therapy. He works with a variety of folks from many different backgrounds, including elderly people in the qathet community.

"I work with many senior [over 65] clients and so do all our clinicians," said Elzinga. "Of course we support seniors [and others] in all areas of life, including: mental health, stress/anxiety, addictions, family issues, relationship, health and chronic illness, trauma, communication."

Free consultation

Elzinga emphasized that the VK Wellness Initiative (4313 Alberta Avenue in Powell River) offers free wellness consults to everybody and everyone, no matter their circumstances.

"We store trauma in the body, and so we [those in addiction] are trying to navigate life, and we get quite used to using alcohol or cannabis or other drugs to try to cope," said Elzinga.

Some of the therapies he uses are to help cool and soothe the nervous system and to become more comfortable in the physical body.

"I don't have one type of therapy that I just apply to people," said Elzinga. "If a person is homeless my focus would be on helping them to get housed. But, if a person is housed and they have family, social connections, eat well and they're doing okay, and they're willing to explore, then I think therapies [or a variety of modalities] such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be really helpful."

Reaching out is first step

Elzinga said there are some tangible and practical steps people can take if they struggle with addiction and/or their mental health.

"If they can get themselves in to see someone like me, a clinician, that's great, because I can help plan therapy, and I can also help to access resources," said Elzinga. "Not everyone has extended health benefits or can afford to see a private therapist; that whole system [public health care services], I think, is kind of broken right now."

The average referral wait time to access mental health services in the qathet region is around three months, which for many people is too long, but Elzinga recommends getting the referral going.

"I would urge people to check out support groups like AA [Alcoholics Anonymous] and NA [Narcotics Anonymous]," said Elzinga. “It's not for everyone, but it can be really helpful, because that's a point of connection, that's a place where you can go and meet other people who are struggling."

Elzinga said a lot of addiction happens in the shadows and what's needed is a safe place to start talking to people who can be trusted.

Connecting people with services

"I like to connect people with services, even if they're not my own client," said Elzinga. "Even if someone doesn't have money, they can approach us, and we will give them a free 20-minute call, and we'll set them up with services that are accessible to the best of our ability."

As for those in the cycle of addiction perpetuated by the toxic drug supply, Elzinga believes innovative solutions are necessary.

"We've [communities in BC] focused a lot on harm reduction in recent years, which is good, but it's not the solution, because it's just keeping people alive, but it doesn't really get to the root of the problem," said Elzinga.

In September 2024, the province announced in a media release that it was taking action to make sure people with long-term concurrent mental-health and addiction challenges receive secure and dignified care by opening highly secure facilities for people under the Mental Health Act throughout the province, as well as secure treatment within BC Corrections.

Addiction challenges/innovative solutions

“People with addiction challenges, brain injuries and mental-health issues need compassionate care and direct and assertive intervention to help them stabilize and rebuild a meaningful life,” stated premier David Eby.

Elzinga believes that society, health professionals, social services and government need to look at programs, for example, such as New Roads, a recovery program run by Our Place in Victoria. The integrated addictions centre provides ongoing therapeutic and medical support as well as employment, educational, work experience and transitional support.

"It is modelled after a program in Italy called San Patrignano," said Elzinga. "Basically, it takes people from jail or off the streets and it puts them together to work together in a community."