Sault addictions worker calls for emotional management education for young people
The head of a Sault Ste. Marie recovery centre is calling for changes from both upper levels of government.
Randy St. John, who's with the Ken Brown Recovery Home, sent a letter calling on politicians from across the country to introduce lessons on emotional management at an earlier age, in hopes that kids won’t fall to drugs to cope with hardships.
Randy St. John of the Ken Brown Recovery Home sent a letter calling on politicians from across the country to introduce lessons on emotional management at an earlier age, in hopes that kids won’t fall to drugs to cope with hardships. (Photo from video)
"We're an 18-bed facility and we have a second phase that has eight beds. we are constantly full," St. John said.
"We generally have a waitlist between 20 and 30 people."
After 42 years working in addictions and recovery, he has an idea to help reduce the amount of people that need his services.
In a letter to several federal and provincial politicians, St. John says the key lies in a fundamental shift in education to teach emotions and coping strategies to young people.
"Almost every addict I ever met looks at stuff and says, 'Yeah, I, fear insecurity, loneliness, shame, guilt. I got all those,' but they never, ever knew how to deal with them," he said.
"Once they took their drug, whatever it was -- whatever that thing was – (it) took away that emotional pain. Why wouldn't they keep using it?"
Sault MP Terry Sheehan responded to our inquiry about the letter, saying St. John's idea is worth exploring.
"Although the education curriculum and health care are the jurisdiction of the Ford government, I can tell you that as a two-term school board trustee that I think the idea ought to be explored,” Sheehan said.
St. John said there’s never been more people with addictions issues than now -- and action needs to come immediately.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
"I'm absolutely convinced that the more education these people would have (received) when they were very small, the less chance that they would have ever ended up here," he said.
In voicing his concerns to politicians across the country, St. John hopes that a change in philosophy will be considered.
While he would like to see emotions-based curriculum for youth, he said he ultimately wants government funding to focus more on prevention, rather than reaction, when it comes to mental health and addictions.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Donald Trump was the subject of 'an assassination attempt,' FBI reports
The FBI said Donald Trump was the target of “what appears to be an attempted assassination” at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sunday.
Vance says he'll 'create stories' when pushed on lack of evidence over claims of Ohio migrants eating animals
Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance did not back away on Sunday from the false claims he and Donald Trump have been making that Haitians in an Ohio community are abducting and eating pets, even as the state's GOP governor and other officials insist there is no evidence of such behavior.
B.C. to open 'highly secure' involuntary care facilities
B.C. will be opening “highly secure facilities” for people with addiction and mental health issues in the province, officials said Sunday.
They came from Jamaica for work, now they're homeless and out thousands of dollars in lost wages
Abuse of Canada’s temporary foreign worker program has left a group of carpenters from Jamaica 'destitute' after an Ottawa company refused to pay them for nearly half a year of work.
Montreal bars, restaurants react to Quebec bill to regulate merchant tipping requests
Quebec tabled a bill on Thursday that would regulate how merchants determine suggested tips, forcing businesses to calculate them based on the price before tax. Restaurant staff and management are divided on the policy.
Queen Victoria's favourite Tuscan villa for sale for more than US$55 million
Once a favoured holiday destination for Queen Victoria, and reputedly described in one of the greatest works of Italian literature, the Villa Palmieri is steeped in history and could now be yours – if you have more than €50 million (US$55 million) lying around.
Air Canada deal avoids shutdown, brings relief to passengers and business groups
Travellers, business groups and politicians expressed fervent relief on Sunday after Air Canada and the union representing thousands of its pilots negotiated a new labour deal and averted a disruptive, countrywide shutdown.
TIFF audience prizes for 'Life of Chuck,' Hip doc; Rankin among Canadian winners
'The Life of Chuck,' an offbeat film by writer-director Mike Flanagan, wins the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.
What are your rights as a neighbour in Canada?
If you have beef with your neighbour and you feel it's gone too far, what should you do? A personal injury lawyer has some advice.