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NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Every few years, there are new statistics, surveys and reports which indicate the prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse in the territory.

RCMP members from the Inuvik detachment keep watch on the almost seven kilograms of cannabis seized during a raid on Aug. 24, 2011, in Inuvik. They also seized a significant amount of cash and drug paraphernalia. From left, Const. Richard Janzen, former Staff Sgt. Wayne Norris and Const. Mike Peters. - NNSL file photo

These addictions to substances have far-reaching effects - straining the territorial departments of Health and Social Services and Justice, as well negatively impacting family, friends and community members.

The 2010 NWT Addictions Report on the Prevalence of Alcohol, Illicit Drug, Tobacco Use and Gambling in the Northwest Territories, reported in 2009, 23 per cent of drinkers reported at least one type of harm to self as a result of drinking, while 55 per cent reported they were victims of individuals who were intoxicated.

The report also showed that 59 per cent of aboriginal people were more likely to be harmed as a result of someone else's drinking and that 61 per cent of residents in communities outside of Yellowknife were at a higher risk of experiencing harm due to alcohol.

The report continues stating 77 per cent of NWT residents consumed alcohol and that those living in communities and regional centres in the NWT, other than Yellowknife, were 55 per cent more likely to have five or more drinks on a single occasion.

The abuse of alcohol caused 22 per cent of all injuries in motor vehicle collisions and 55 per cent of all deaths between 1996 and 2004.

"Addiction is a primarily a chronic disease where relapsing is part of the disease and part of the recovery," said Byrne Richards, executive director at the Tree of Peace in Yellowknife.

"Addicts when they're faced with life's problems will always resort to a coping mechanism to deal with it."

According to Richards, between April 2011 and March 2012, more than 400 people have accessed the services at the Tree of Peace to deal with their addictions.

When it comes to drug abuse in the NWT, respondents in the 2010 report stated they used marijuana at least once while 59 per cent stated they were "lifelong users." During the report, 24 per cent of those said they have tried cocaine/crack, hallucinogens, speed, ecstasy and heroin at least once.

Overall, approximately 27 per cent of drug users experienced at least one type of harm to themselves physically, socially, or financially.

"Today it's crazy. Just crazy," said Garry Hubert, executive director of SideDoor Youth Ministries in Yellowknife.

Hubert said he's known of children as young as 11 years old who are either using or dealing in drugs and that the lure of easy money, street cred, and problems at home are some of the factors that entice youth into substance abuse today.

"When you're addicted to drugs you'll do anything. You have no conscience, the conscience is dead," said Hubert.

In the territory's capital in 2011, 76 per cent of those arrested and put into custody were charged with an offence related to drug or alcohol use. More than 90 per cent of these put into custody in 2011 in Yellowknife were intoxicated when arrested for an unrelated offence, according to RCMP Const. Amanda McGillivray.

"Alcohol and drugs manifest into bad behaviour," said McGillivray, who noted it takes an RCMP officer an hour to process each person brought into custody.

The RCMP couldn't give numbers as to how many people where arrested on drug or alcohol charges but Statistics Canada's 2011 report stated that of the 1,363 people who were arrested in the NWT during 2010-11, 158 people were found guilty of impaired driving and 53 of drug possession or trafficking.

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