Nutrition education for Native treatment centres

Based on a needs assessment of native treatment centres and a pilot training project, a 10-day nutrition workshop was offered to 49 counsellors and cooks from 30 native treatment centres from six provinces. Objectives were to: 1) improve the understanding of the effect of alcohol on health and nutrition; 2) to improve the understanding of the role of nutrition in rehabilitation; 3) to clarify their respective roles and 4) to improve skills in menu planning for recovery and special diets, food safety procedures and cooking techniques appropriate for recovery. Assessment, counselling and treatment were considered in relation to native cultural values, meeting basic human needs and counselling theory. Participants rated the following at four or five (on a scale of one to five): meeting their expectations (98%); improving their understanding of the role of nutrition in total well being and recovery (98%); the effect of alcohol on health and nutrition (98%); the recovery diet (96%), special diets and planning and adapting menus (94%) and food safety (96%); developing skills in nutritional assessment (92%) and counselling (89%). Ninety-two percent were interested in further training and 94% of participants would recommend this training to others in the addiction field.