The Portage Friendship Centre started holding sessions on Monday during the current National Addictions Awareness Week in Portage la Prairie at the Eagles Fire Youth Centre. Students from PCI were in attendance, and today's session focused on compulsive gambling. Insight Mentor Debbie Parker says they're continuing all week except Friday.

"Our first day consisted of a feast. We had about 15 people here. Elder Dave Daniels did the ceremony with his pipe and prayers. Prairie Sage Singers were here and sang a song and drummed. Everyone fully enjoyed it."

(L-R) Gail Ducharme, Jill Fast, & Debbie Parker (partners in Addictions Awareness programming)

Two anonymous spokespersons from Winnipeg were asked to come for today's session and share their experiences with compulsive gambling.

"I talked about my story and how I started gambling at a young age of 13, and I did not stop until I was 44."

They both noted they gain a personal benefit from their presentations.

"We share our experiences because they help us, and also because we want to help others. We help the students not only understand the illness of compulsive gambling, but to know there is a program that really works for people, and there's hope."