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Addictions Week 2012
Little progress made on addictions
Government report lays out new focus on alcohol and mental illness

Simon Whitehouse
Northern News Services
Published Monday, November 19, 2012

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Addictions in the NWT are not getting better and the GNWT is back at the drawing board trying to figure out what to do, according to a recent report.

The Department of Health and Social Services published an action plan in June titled A Shared Path Towards Wellness. The plan, which addresses the territorial government's approach through to 2015, paints a grim picture of addiction issues.

"The overall picture with respect to addictions does not appear to be improving, in spite of the significant resources devoted to mental health and addictions over the years and the persistent efforts by many dedicated and talented people to deliver mental health and addictions programs," the document states.

The report, tabled by Tom Beaulieu, minister of Health and Social Services in the legislature on June 12, indicates that alcohol and its relation to mental illness, remains the biggest issue.

A number of groups are important in overcoming addictions in the territories, the plan states, but key among them are the community counselling programs operated by seven regional Health and Social Service authorities.

"This plan calls for communities, aboriginal governments, non-government organizations, community groups and individuals to address mental health and addictions issues together," Beaulieu stated in a press release in June.

The GNWT released a wealth of statistics earlier in the summer; among them were figures indicating that half the people hospitalized for mental illness were engaged in substance abuse.

As well, between 2000 and 2009, 45 per cent of unintentional injury deaths in the NWT were due to the over-consumption of alcohol.

In another startling figure, 64 per cent of people polled between the ages 15 and 24 reported that they consume five or more drinks on a single occasion, while one in four drink heavily once a week.

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