Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, want to speak on this topic here. Someone told me that quitting addictions, quitting alcohol is easy. Staying sober or staying free from that is challenging. Also, somebody told me that when you overcome your own addictions, it is very, very difficult and our greatest battle starts with ourselves.
We have to clearly acknowledge our fears and be willing to follow certain prescribed remedies to stay free of our addictions. Countless men and women I have known have gotten and stayed sober and clear of addictions. Some of them may wonder how they did this. Well, I have also heard that each of us, within us, have our own solutions, our own methods of resolving our own issues in life, and I say good for them, pass it on. Others need mentors and supports for them to be there, to guide them as they walk this road. Of course, there are the treatment programs. There are some that provide some relief for people to go to look at their issues with addictions and the impact that has caused them in their life.
We have heard people in the Sahtu, as my colleague Ms. Bisaro said, talk about the impacts of alcohol addiction. We have seen people and heard people who want to sober up and be free of addiction, people who want to have healthy families and live in healthy communities. People are asking for support for themselves and their families. We can, as legislators, be there for them, make a difference in life by saying no to addictions.
I call upon this government to implement recommendations from the Minister’s Forum on Addictions that was over the last summer that they went through. I will ask the Minister of Health as to the follow-up on the recommendations to the report. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
