Rotary Club of Regina

Weekly Club Meeting Report –  May 6, 2024

 

President George opened the meeting with an acknowledgement of the Indigenous Peoples of all the lands which we inhabit today.  President George encouraged us to consider the Acknowledgement in the context of our 4 Way Test.

O Canada – Allen Hillsden

 Ian Yeates asked the Blessing.

Today’s speaker was President George.  George has for many years worked with pregnant women with addictions complications. Canada has major issues with addiction.  Alcohol. Cigarettes. But today George focused on opioid addiction.  Canada’s rate of addition is 2^nd in the world.  It is said that if Canada and the USA didn’t provide such strong market for opioids that the supply worldwide might shrink substantially.  Saskatchewan is second only to Alberta in Canada. Addicts lose an average of 12 years of life.

Why don’t addicts just say no to drugs.  Because the drug releases excess dopamine and takes over the brain’s pleasure pathway .  An addict is fighting the biology of the brain trying to stop.  The immediacy of the “pleasure” is much more impactful than the long struggle , perhaps years away, of getting off drugs.

How do addicts get hooked? Many addicts started by receiving drugs prescribed by our medical system. Drugs are prescribed as legitimate antidotes to pain, but prolonged use can lead to addiction. There are many reasons people turn to drugs.  Perhaps their life is in a mess. Abuse. Neglect. Violence, Unstable housing. Mental health crisis. Family disfunction.  Perhaps the addict is looking for connection to others and the group he/she finds are all users. Maybe the addict started young and before self control and discipline was maximized ( the inhibitory control area of the frontal brain does not fully develop until age 25)

How does an addict recover?  It is very difficult.  There are many starts and stops and start again.  The addicts life needs change.  Stable relationships. Ally support. Stable housing. Employment . Better health both physical and mental. There are specific medical interventions.  There are community drug programs such as agonist opioid therapy which utilizes synthetic drugs to help the addict get off street drugs.  Such synthetic drugs avoid the worst of withdrawal symptoms . The drug supply is pure and not adulterated with dangerous additives. The drugs are free so users don’t need to steal, or sell sex , to survive.  The drug supply is regular and predictable so the user is not using his/her wits to survive day to day. George is involved in such a community program at 1048 Albert St. aimed at opioid users. 

The presentation had much more and was very informative.  We thank George both for his presentation and his work in the community.

 

          

– Osvaldo Campos Ruiz 10 May

- Moses Nkachukwu 13 May

-Joanna Alexander 20 May

Anniversaries:

– Dustin Jones, 2 years from 8 Mayl

- Mark Stefan 16 years, from 12 May

- Doug Keam also 39 years, from 28 May. So, Bob Nell wins by 19 days longer membership!

 

-  •     A work project

o         The first renewal of our service went well. Serving at Soul’s Harbour 1632 Angus Street. About 8 to 10 people are needed for each meal, served 4 to 6 PM. Souls Harbour has a vacancy on the third Thursday evening each month. For this month that is 19 May. Monthly lists of workers will be circulated. We need 4 or 5 more for May

 

•         The Amalgamation  Conversation Continues

o         Each club has a history and culture to be respected. We have things to keep, and, if we are to succeed, changes we must accept

o         The boards of Regina and Eastview will develop a proposal to come back to all members

o         Feedback and suggestions to any Board member of either Club is welcomed and needed

o         Bob Terichow is organizing a discussion inviting past-Presidents

o         Nothing will happen without a decision of all the members

 

*         Social Events:

-          City Tour led by Ian Toms on 25 May at 10 AM SHARP from Lorne and Victoria (beside Knox Met) finishing at noon at the Copper Kettle. Tell Ian by 20 May.

-          Come From Away Group Tickets 15-17 October. Tell Joanna

•         A work project

-          The first renewal of our service went well. Serving at Soul’s Harbour 1632 Angus Street. About 8 to 10 people are needed for each meal, served 4 to 6 PM. Souls Harbour has a vacancy on the third Thursday evening each month. For this month that is 19 May. Monthly lists of workers will be circulated. We need 4 or 5 more for May

* Our club historian, Joanna , described our clubs Legacy Donation to Souls Harbour in 2018.  The objective was $100,000 but we raised $250,000.  Joanne had volunteered for our club’s third Thursday this month to serve the up to 200 meals a night.  But calamity hit. One of only two coffee pots failed. Souls Harbour needs to buy another coffee pot.  A large one.  $400 needed. Joanna and the treasurers from both clubs passed empty hand held coffee pots around.  When the money was counted there was $415! (thanks to a late received donation) Well done!

- Ian Toms then led us in the 4 Way Test.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report prepared and submitted by Russ Hart.