Let’s work together to find a solution to the issue of addiction – Sault Star

Jan 31, 2024

It was good to see recent developments by northern Indigenous political leadership to deal with the epidemic of drug and alcohol abuse and the dire situation of suicide primarily by young Native people in Northern Ontario. I know we are all fed up with watching so many of our family members and friends becoming helpless with addictions and the resulting violence in our Northern First Nations. We are also feeling helpless with so many of our people dealing with mental health issues.
Chi-Meegwetch (Thanks very much) to all our Indigenous leaders for stepping up and making the decision to deal with these critical problems and for providing funding to move towards some kind of a solution. I was heartened to read a statement that Mushkegowuk Council has approved funding to support Kashechewan, Fort Albany, Moose Cree and Attawapiskat First Nations to respond to an escalating illegal drug and alcohol crisis that is devastating our communities. The council has determined the funding will help stem the flow of illegal drugs, enhance bylaw enforcement measures and establish a Regional Community Safety Project which will include efforts to address drug and alcohol addiction. The Ontario Regional Coroner’s Office in December 2023 indicated Mushkegowuk First Nations drug toxicity death rates for the period 2019 to 2023 were triple the Ontario average. More work is being done to update and expand this information.

Read More: https://www.saultstar.com/opinion/lets-work-together-to-find-a-solution-to-the-issues-of-addiction