Amid concerns of a crisis, Lutsel KSA国际影视传媒檈 Dene First Nation Chief James Marlowe is calling on the territorial government to establish a permanent addiction treatment centre in the NWT.
SA国际影视传媒淭here are a lot of people out there suffering due to mental health issues, addictions and trauma,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭here is hardly any support. There has been hardly any headway with the government in implementing programs and services for those that need help.SA国际影视传媒�
In terms of residential addiction treatment service providers, SA国际影视传媒渢here are zero places for anybody in the Northwest Territories,SA国际影视传媒� said Marlowe.
Due to limited treatment options in the North, those in need of residential care are sent out of the territory, SA国际影视传媒渁nd it seems like thatSA国际影视传媒檚 not working,SA国际影视传媒� he contended.
Marlowe and other Akaitcho Territory Government chiefs recently issued a news release requesting additional resources needed to deal with addiction and mental health issues in their communities.
The territory has had several residential addiction treatment centres in the past SA国际影视传媒� most recently NatsSA国际影视传媒檈jee KSA国际影视传媒檈h in Hay River, which closed its doors in 2013.
Though the territory partners with a number of facilities for residents in need of therapy, all are outside the territory.
In small communities, those impacted by substance use sometimes end up in larger centres such as Yellowknife, SA国际影视传媒渨here they get deeper into addiction,SA国际影视传媒� said Marlowe.
Often, the only services these individuals receive are SA国际影视传媒渨hen they cause trouble,SA国际影视传媒� and find themselves in the criminal justice system, he added.
SA国际影视传媒淭he judges in the court system tend to ship them back to the communities where they come from,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hey throw them back with no proper assistance for housing, counselling or mental health services to take care of that individual.SA国际影视传媒�
Members of his Lutsel KSA国际影视传媒檈 Dene First Nation are in support of creating a regional addiction treatment centre with cultural programming, such as on-the-land healing camps, according to Marlowe.
National Addictions Awareness Week, which runs from Nov. 20SA国际影视传媒�26, aims to destigmatize Canadians dealing with addiction while recognizing efforts for change, which is why SA国际影视传媒淐hange Begins with MeSA国际影视传媒� is the theme for this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 observance.
Sara Austin, founder and CEO of the national charity Children First Canada, said the impacts of substance abuse can be especially profound in youth.
SA国际影视传媒淭here are significantly high numbers of young people experiencing that challenge, along with other mental health concerns,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲hatSA国际影视传媒檚 often shocking is the very young ages at which young people are facing many of these issues.SA国际影视传媒�
The organization recently released its fifth annual Raising Canada report, which reveals nearly 60 per cent of Canadians think children are worse off now than a year ago.
The report suggests that eight million kids in Canada are facing substantial risks to their well-being, with Indigenous communities being more drastically affected than others.
It calls on the federal government to take action with the creation of an independent federal commissioner for children and youth dedicated to protecting their rights.
