A night of good, clean fun with a focus on families will again take on the form of a game show.
To help celebrate National Addictions Awareness Week, which runs from Nov. 16 to 22, the Addictions Services department of Alberta Health Services in Athabasca in partnership with local agencies and businesses are running their annual Family Fun Night.
The free event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. this Wednesday night at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex.
This year’s event is going to be similar to last year, where the theme will be based on the ‘Minute to Win It’ game show that was a popular cable television show.
The show featured contestants participating in games of skill that involved using every day items and devised to be completed in one minute or less.
Paul Deveau, an addictions counselor with AHS in Athabasca, explained the local event was planned to promote healthy lifestyles and mental wellness while raising the awareness with the general public of how issues related to substance abuse and problem gambling can affect the entire community, but especially families.
“It was originally organized to provide a night focused on giving families a fun night of activities free of drugs and alcohol,” Deveau explained.
“We changed things up last year when attendance began to dip and we were looking for something new. Someone suggested the ‘Minute to Win It’ challenges like the game show and it simply snowballed.”
Deveau added last year was a great success with around 100 people showing up and the hope is even more people will come out and participate this time.
“Last year’s event even generated some spinoffs with staff members and others using the games and theme on their own, for such things as team building events,” he stated.
“The hope is also that the families that come and take part will take home with them ideas on some fun activities to do at home, as most of these games involve items that every household would have available and are very easy to set up.”
And it is small actions like creating quick fun at home that can make a big difference in preventing addiction and promoting healthy lifestyles and mental wellness.
Other things that will help include:
• Being a positive role model by being responsible and either not becoming involved in using drugs and alcohol or by seeking treatment if you do have problems;
• Talk to your children about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, as well as gambling, in an open and honest manner and helping them find the answers to their questions;
• Listen, listen and then listen some more to your children;
• Eat at least one meal with friends or family every day and let children decide on a fun family activity to do together;
• Find ways to support and or volunteer in your community;
• And, attend your children’s activities plus be their biggest supporter.
