Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve often heard that addictions can be best described as the insatiable thirst that can never be satisfied. Some folks struggling with addictions tell me it’s a lifetime struggle.
It is a long struggle. Certainly one that must always be fought, but never be fought alone, even when one’s friends and family may be frustrated watching this. Addictions isn’t an individual problem; it’s a community problem that we all need to help and we must remind ourselves that addictions is a fight worth fighting.
Let me remind this House that everyone who is affected, be it friends, be it family, are lost and they just need help finding their journey home. Whatever process, whatever the addiction is, we must fight with them. Everyone needs assistance to help carry this burden and finally someday, hopefully, to set this burden down.
It affects families and friends, old and young. No culture, no gender or even economic background is exempt from this cruel experience. Who gets labeled with it? It’s difficult to say. But when a person picks it up, it’s a terrible one to put down. Many words have been said to warm our souls about actions on addictions, but the real actions come when we are measured and judged by what we do. I’ve often heard about how much we’re going to do. I’d like to see us start doing it.
I certainly support on-the-land programs, and that won’t change. I believe that there are many journeys to the healing paths that many souls need to take. There is the formal side, which we all talk about from time to time, where we talk about addictions treatment centres, detox and even hospitals. There’s also the spiritual side, equally important, which includes community-based programs such as on-the-land, support through community groups by the community, in the community. But sometimes when we see people sent away to those southern treatment centres, they come back with mixed results. Sometimes with only just a small respite while they’re away, but to be tossed back right into the same circumstances they had left from. But they should not be left alone when they return. We cannot leave them in what some can be described as up the creek without a paddle. We must make sure we arm them with friendship, support, programs, all the tools they need. Sometimes that means through community-based programming.
Let me remind this House about a great initiative that’s happening right now in Tulita. It’s found its way without help from the government. This Tulita program, Helping People Heal Themselves, is getting support from the federal government and even a Movember foundation without the help of this government. That is really sad.
I’ll continue this subject during question period with my questions to Minister Abernethy about where is our government standing up to help people fight their addictions. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
