Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

K'ATLODEECHE/HAY RIVER FIRST NATION
It is no secret that many Northerners struggle with addictions. Having programs available to help people in their recovery is vital, Department of Health and Social Services officials and NWT politicians agree.

Addiction statistics (per cent of population) Addictions in the NWT Alcohol consumption: 77 per cent Consuming five or more drinks at once: 43 per cent (64 per cent among 15-to-24-year-olds) Cannabis consumption - lifetime users: 59 per cent Cannabis consumption - weekly users: 11 per cent Hard drug consumption - lifetime: 24 per cent Hard drug consumption - within the last year: Four per cent Addictions in Canada Alcohol consumption: 78 per cent Consuming five or more drinks at once: 12.1 per cent Cannabis consumption - lifetime: 39.4 per cent Cannabis consumption - within the past year: 9.1 per cent Hard drug consumption - lifetime: N/A Hard drug consumption - within the last year: 1.9 per cent Sources: 2009 NWT Addictions Report, Department of Health and Social Services2011 Canadian Alcohol and Drug Use Monitoring Survey, Health Canada

Currently, the bulk of addictions treatment work is done at the regional level, where each of the seven regional Health and Social Services authorities provide a community counselling program. For those who wish to attend a treatment centre for their addictions problem, there is one centre that serves the entire territory: the Nats'ejee K'eh Treatment Centre on the Hay River Reserve.

Nats'ejee K'eh translates to "healing place," and offers clients gender-specific 28-day abstinence programs, or a 14-day relapse prevention program. In order to enter a program, a client must be sober for 10 consecutive days prior.

Between April 1 and Sept. 30, 78 clients entered a treatment program at the Nats'ejee K'eh Treatment Centre. Of those, 65 clients completed the program. During the most recent intake for a 28-day men's program beginning on Oct. 17, 28 individuals enrolled at the 30-bed facility, said Andy Langford, director of community wellness and social services with the Department of Health and Social Services.

Langford did not wish to speculate on whether another treatment facility should be built in the territory, saying that a minister's addictions forum has just begun to consult with communities about what they think possible addictions solutions are before coming to any conclusions.

"In general, obviously treatment closer to home is better than treatment farther away from home but that has to be tempered with the practical reality that we are never going to be in a position to provide a full range of services in every community," Langford said. "I don't know of any jurisdiction in Canada - provinces, for instance - where every town and city has a treatment centre. That doesn't happen."

Those needing more specialized addictions treatment not available in the territory must travel to the south to receive care, he said.

"Our services are organized so we put as many primary services as possible in the community level and then our next level of service delivery is at the regional level, then we move up to services that are available at a territorial level," said Langford. "In some instances even at a territorial level, services aren't available. When that happens we make sure that patients or clients are able to access services in provincial programs."

Northerners do struggle with a high rate of addiction, he acknowledged, however, every client who seeks help with the department has their needs addressed.

Some people have benefitted from on-the-land treatment programs within their home communities. These options are also being considered as part of the minister's addiction forum. Members of this forum are conducting community consultations and will make recommendations to the territorial government next spring.

"The benefit is in facilitating a range of treatment services that respond to community needs and are built from the ground up rather than having them built from the top down," Langford said. "There is no one-size-fits-all, so looking for a single program that is going to fit everybody's needs, I think that's an impossible search."

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.