Debates of May 15, 2007 (day 7)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Mr. Speaker, I mentioned this in my Member’s statement regarding an Aftercare Program. Is there currently an Aftercare Program in place? That is my question for Health and Social Services. (Translation ends)

I would like to focus today on the Aftercare Program where we send out community members or even individuals going for treatment for a month, 28 days, whether it be down south or Hay River. The Aftercare Program is vital to recovery road. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, can the Minister please outline programs that are currently in place in the communities to support those with addictions returning from their treatment? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 80-15(6): Alcohol Treatment Aftercare Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are quite a number of programs that we are involved with right from when an individual comes forward requesting support in this area of alcohol and drug addictions counselling through our framework and the revisions working with NGOs, this government and Members of this Assembly. There are a number of areas we have tried to focus on, and that is improving access in communities through community wellness workers as well as mental health and addiction workers and working with those that would come through. As well, in a number of communities -- and I have to admit, it is not in all communities -- there are groups. For example, there is the AA program that follows aftercare as well as one of the other methods. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 80-15(6): Alcohol Treatment Aftercare Programs

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the statistics show that 36 percent of the overall population and 53 percent of people aged 15 to 24 consume more than five drinks per day, Mr. Speaker. These stats are compounded when we include those dealing with suicides, accidental deaths, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, education and employment. Obviously, what we are doing is not working. Has a review been done in each community to look at the success rates of the aftercare programs currently in place? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 80-15(6): Alcohol Treatment Aftercare Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know this is a sensitive issue and a very critical one in the Northwest Territories. This area is going to continue to be a problem, as we heard the Members speak about this issue today. I can go into a long process on my personal experience, but rather than that, I will go into some of the work we have done and what we are trying to do. There has been work done by previous governments as well as the Department of Health and Social Services working around how our programs are working. We have heard it, as I sat on the other side of the floor, from the social programs side, heard about how our programs are ineffective. When the government was going through downsizing, we are losing facilities. The question came around, should we build facilities or should we invest in people? We have worked through a number of organizations again with NGOs and Members to try to come up with a process that would work. We believe investing in people is going to make a difference. While we haven’t, as of recently, gone into each community to look if our Aftercare Program is working. What we have is, through a number of efforts, try to look at the whole program area from start to finish and hopefully to full recovery of individuals. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 80-15(6): Alcohol Treatment Aftercare Programs

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with the program delivery in communities, there is always room for improvements. The current system may not be enough. It may not be working for the communities. As a follow-up, would the Minister consider working with the communities to develop better strategies and programs such as aftercare programs to deal with addictions and investing in people as the Minister puts it? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 80-15(6): Alcohol Treatment Aftercare Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, we are working with communities. In fact, in March of this year, there was a group that met to review our progress on our core service plan in the mental health and addictions area. New direction has been given for the next five years that we drafted. Hopefully by mid-summer, we can look at how we would proceed from here. We are working with Health and Social Services authorities, NGOs, aboriginal groups and other stakeholders to come up with a new direction in this area. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 80-15(6): Alcohol Treatment Aftercare Programs

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Just to conclude my question for the Minister, I would like to focus on the next step. Can the Minister commit to providing resources necessary to deal with these community-based strategies? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 80-15(6): Alcohol Treatment Aftercare Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department has been investing substantially in this area in talking about investing in people. For example, in 2006-2007, up to 77 positions or $6.6 million in funding to support the delivery of counselling programs in Health and Social Services authorities. That means 45 community wellness workers, 24 mental health and addiction counsellors, as well as eight clinical supervisors. We are working on putting the package together through the Chalmer’s report, through the Stay the Course report that followed up on that and working with committee and NGO stakeholders. We are moving down this path towards improving the system.

Ultimately, Mr. Speaker, it is going to start in the home as individuals make their decisions. We can come up with the programming, but if people don’t take that initial step to get help…We are there to offer them help once they take that step, but we need them to realize they need to take that step. Thank you.