CADS Auckland is a Safe Place
Wednesday, 17 June 2008.
Originally from express article 17 June 2008 (updated from article #32, May 2008)
By Di from Auckland Community Alcohol and Drug Services (CADS)
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| Di from CADS on CADS is a Safe Place. |
Winter just sneaks up on us doesn’t it? Turn round and suddenly it is dark at 6pm!!!
It is a bit like drug use. We can go from occasional use of substances that will heighten an experience to a desperate need for drugs without which it seems impossible to have fun.
The problem is that we get instant pleasure from our drug use, and for some of us, it becomes incredibly important. The kicker is that the come down can be unbearable – and alleviating the pain and seeking pleasure consumes us, so we use again. Round we go.
So why don’t we get off this nasty wee roundabout? I think of it as like the ‘boiling frog’ story. This was a biology experiment where a frog is dropped into boiling water (yes sorry frog). Of course the frog immediately jumps out of the pot. The second part of the experiment is to put the same frog into a pot of cold water which has a slow flame burning underneath. Initially, the frog likes the warmth, and soon it gets comfy and sleepy. Eventually, the frog gets cooked, only realizing too late that it is in danger. The frog is cooked alive.
How do we avoid being ‘cooked alive’? Well this is where the great service I work for comes in. During office hours (and at some locations after office hours) you are very welcome to pop in to a CADS unit (to find your nearest CADS unit, click here). The best time to do this is between 10am-1pm, as this is when we have more counsellors available.
The thing about CADS is that we are not there to judge, or shame, or make you do anything that you do not want to do. We have had reports from our clients that when they come to CADS it was the first time someone really listened to their story, was really there for them.
Remember our free services are for people worried about other peoples use of alcohol and other drugs, as well as for people who would like to talk about their own use.
We are also gay friendly – all our counsellors welcome queer clients and we have counsellors who are available to see people who want to be seen by a queer counsellor.
So if you are someone who is stuck on the addiction roundabout, come and talk to us. We are free, we are discreet and we could be the first step to a happier, more fulfilled future.
When you’re ready to talk about your alcohol or other drug use, or you’re concerned about someone else, contact CADS on 845 1818 or www.cads.org.nz. If you live outside Auckland contact Alcohol and Drug Helpline 0800 787 797.
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