Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, [Translation] I will be speaking about addictions with alcohol and drugs and how that is affecting our people in the communities. I will speak on this. [Translation ends] We all know that addiction is plaguing NWT communities. Addictions to drugs and alcohol is affecting all communities in the Northwest Territories. Addiction hurts everyone. It rips families apart, traumatizes children, and impacts the whole community. In this House, we have spoke many times about the need for treatment, a culturally appropriate addiction treatment centre.
We know that in the NWT we have some of the highest rates in the country for consumption of alcohol and use of crack cocaine. The NWT has a higher rate of heavy drinkers than the national average, and Indigenous people have a higher rate than nonIndigenous. Mr. Speaker, we know that people are dying in our communities because of drug use, and death from drug use is increasing.
Mr. Speaker, crack cocaine is destroying the life of our people, especially the young people who are our future. We have many young people in small communities addicted to crack cocaine. Mr. Speaker, this is not good, and we cannot turn a blind eye to this crisis. I can tell you there are a lot of users, especially in small communities.
A news conference was just held in Hay River on January 24th, 2023, to address the alarming surge of drug poisoning deaths in Hay River. Our territory has witnessed an increase in suicide and now drugrelated death. The coroner's report showed that alcohol and drugs were a factor in 50 percent or more of all accidental death in the NWT.
We know that Indigenous people are healing from intergenerational trauma. Families in the NWT are healing from the impact of colonization and residential school. We also know, Mr. Speaker, in order to support recovery, people need to have culturally relevant healing programs, yet, Mr. Speaker, if an Indigenous person in the NWT wanted to admit themself into an Indigenousfocused addiction treatment centre, this is not a cost the government will incur. The GNWT does not have an agreement to work with any addiction treatment facility that provide culturally relevant program for Indigenous clients. Mr. Speaker, this is not acceptable. I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.
