When Kuni Frith-Black introduced the Alternative Substance Abuse Programme into Westgate Correctional Facility it didn't exactly meet with a warm reception.

Ten months later the programme is experiencing some success and by the time the fourth class begins at the end of the month some 43 prisoners will have been exposed to a new method of fighting drug addiction.

"It is a six-month intensive programme and Mark (not his real name) was of the opinion that he did not need treatment, so were many of the other gentlemen who had been accessed," explained Mrs. Frith-Black, the Director of the programme.

"Once they got into the class and got into the areas that were covered, such as the history and traditions of Narcotics Anonymous, they learned about their own addictive thinking, manipulation and deception.

"They then moved on to codependence, which covers a broad area, and then to men's work. In the men's work session we covered anger, violence, abusive relationships and issues pertaining to men, getting men to express emotions. It was like a chain link. NA ties into the addictive thinking, which ties into codependence, which ties into the issues with men and their violence and abuse."

Thirteen inmates started the pilot programme with four dropping out.

"They were very honest and I appreciated that," said Mrs. Frith-Black. "They just were not ready to commit to the programme and they told me that. They felt they would be holding the group back."

Those from that first group completed the programme in July and some of them have been transferred to the Prison Farm.

"Their families got to see them receive their certificate of completion, because many bridges had been burned where families were concerned," said Mrs. Frith-Black.

"It was very rewarding for the inmate to actually have family come to the completion ceremony. It was an extremely emotional ceremony."

Those participating in the programme had to agree to be randomly drug tested as part of the condition.

"In order to bring up the integrity of the programme I requested that their rooms be drug searched, that they have the ION scan as part of their treatment," said Mrs. Frith-Black who has a degree in Counselling Psychology and Holistic Studies and is pursuing a Doctor of Naturopathy.

One inmate completed the programme in July but continues to go to classes to assist as a facilitator and to encourage the other inmates.

Mrs. Frith-Black is encouraged, too, about what the programme has to offer. She admits the task ahead of her is an enormous one, but that progress is already being made.

"I was introduced to the prison through Focus, when I worked at Focus I came up here and helped to facilitate groups," said Mrs. Frith-Black who also hosts a radio programme, Holistic Living, every Monday evening on 1340 from 6.15 to 7 p.m. She is contracted by Government to do the Alternative Substance Abuse Programme at Westgate.

"I was approached by the Assistant Commissioner Mr. (Randall) Woolridge to implement a drug programme. We have had our ups and downs, we've had church groups attack us with the acupuncture, saying it is Satanic.

"Mr. Woolridge was criticised severely for this programme and he took all of that criticism and said `I will not waver, this is the programme that we have employed here at the prisons and this is the programme we're going to stick with'."

Commissioner Lt. Col. John Prescod is also putting his full support behind this programme and others designed to help make offenders better citizens in society. "We recognise that the vast majority of our inmates have substance abuse problems and we really need to address this very critical situation," said Lt. Col. Prescod.

"Mrs. Frith-Black has come in and is now in her second batch of inmates and doing a very successful programme of treating inmates who have shown an interest in changing their bad habits to new productive habits.

"From what I've witnessed at the last graduation and looking at them in classes and the dedication and determination they have shown despite all the obstacles, it gives me a lot of hope for the future.

"For the future I would like to expand this and other programmes in a comprehensive fashion and I'm working with other service providers and with the ministry to get a comprehensive treatment programme in place where we can actually cover every single drug abuse problem that may come to us in the future."

To be a success, the Commissioner stressed that the support of the community was vital.

"We need the public to support in a tangible way and in a manner that they also give the opportunities to these persons as they try to correct something that is devastating," Lt. Col. Prescod said.

"Even persons who may have been their victims, there has to be a meeting of minds and a real understanding of the real scourge of drugs and to offer employment opportunities that may be available. They will fall down but we have to persist and help them through a difficult period."

The same people who put up resistance to the Alternative Substance Abuse Programme initially are now coming around, the Director is pleased to say.

"People's attitudes have changed, their mindsets have changed because they have seen the end result and they are very supportive now," says Mrs. Frith-Black.

"The second group I called the rebel group because just about everybody in there did not want to come, with the exception of about two people.

"They have been given me grief for the past six months, and just when I thought I had spent the last six months wasting my time and banging my head against the wall, one of them stopped me and said `Mrs. Black, I'm trying to encourage this brother to take the programme, do you think he can come to our completion ceremony?'.

"Then I get another one, `Mrs. Black, do you think I can bring up so-and-so, I'm trying to encourage him to get into the programme?' I decided it had to be a group decision because everybody was asking and when I asked to the group if anybody wanted to bring an inmate that they are trying to encourage into the programme, everybody's hand went up

"Eleven guys wanting to bring another inmate that they had been mentoring to encourage them to take the programme! The ice was broken at the first completion ceremony."

Mrs. Frith-Black says the programme, which also uses herbal detoxification, is `just scratching the surface' in the fight against drugs in this community.

"What they are learning in this programme is anybody who offers you mind-altering substances is not your friend," she stressed. "You need to distance yourself from that person because they are interferring with your life."

The programme was modelled on programmes in Dade County, Miami, Las Vegas, Texas and Oregon and Mrs. Frith-Black went to Las Vegas for ten days in March for training for Acu-Detox Specialist Certification for substance abuse.

"It was new and the only saving grace I had was Dr. (James) Buccigross, (the Clinical Psychologist at Westgate) who is familiar with the Dade County programme and knows some of the people who run the programme," explained Mrs. Frith-Black.

Now the programme is being mandated by the courts. The three hour classes are held three times a week and those participating look forward to the classes. Acupuncture can be used on different parts of the body but the type of acupuncture used with the Alternative Substance Abuse programme concentrates on the ears.

"With aricular acupuncture there is a five point protocol that deals specifically with substance abuse, but inmates derive other benefits from that," explained Mrs. Frith-Black. "One inmate had a bronchial disorder that he had been living with for years and he noticed clearly that he can breathe better and sleep better. If they are suffering from insomnia they can sleep better. It is relaxing and calms the nervous system and they are not as agitated."

Next week: Three inmates share their experiences with drugs and their opinion of the programme.