Manitoba Addictions Awareness Week (MAAW) runs from Nov. 14 through Nov. 20, and the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba (AFM) is gearing up for a week of education and activity.
"This year we have a lot of events," explained Nuwan Fonseka, a prevention education consultant with AFM. The goal of MAAW is to educate the public about issues surrounding all sorts of addictions, including alcohol, drugs, and gambling.
Specifically laid out by MAAW organizers as four areas in which they are trying to raise awareness are use and misuse of various substances, gambling behaviour, healthy choices, and community resources.
This year's MAAW theme is "MAAW: What's it mean to you?" - this theme will be reflected in the activities of the week, and AFM has developed a busy calendar of events around that theme, including a public display which will spend all week at the Thompson Public Library. There will also be a display at the University College of the North (UCN) on Nov. 18-19, which will make its way to City Centre Mall on Nov. 20 to wrap up the week.
The AFM building on Princeton Drive will itself host a pair of events - a "mindfulness conversation" meditation session on Nov. 15, as well as a feast and pipe ceremony for youth on Nov. 17.
Other MAAW events in Thompson include a Northern Circle of Youth creative evening at the new Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre building on Nov. 16, a creative morning event at the Thompson Boys & Girls Club on Nov. 17, an addictions-themed Jeopardy game at UCN on Nov. 18, and a week-ending dance at the Thompson Regional Community Centre on Nov. 19.
"Addictions Awareness Week is a great opportunity to start taking action to build stronger, healthier, more caring and supportive communities," said Fonseka. "Knowledge and awareness are two of the best tools we can provide young people in our promotion of responsible and health decision-making."
"Addiction issues affect thousands of Manitobans including children, youth, adults and families every year, and the resulting negative consequences can have long-lasting and far-reaching effects," he continued. "These effects can go far beyond the individual and their family, even permeating throughout the communities in which they live."
MAAW - known outside Manitoba as National Addictions Awareness Week or NAAW - is held annually in the third week of November. The week was first proclaimed by the federal government in 1987. Approximately 600,000 people take part in NAAW activities throughout the country.
In Thompson, the 2010 MAAW Committee is composed of representatives from AFM, Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak the Thompson Boys & Girls Club, Youth Build, the Burntwood Regional Health Authority, and the Northern Circle of Youth.
