National Aboriginal Addictions Awareness Week
10975 - 124 Street T5M 0H9 Edmonton, AB, Canada

The province of Newfoundland and Labrador is spending $180,000 to support the effort of smaller organizations in their efforts to improve the health of people with mental illness and addictions. The funding is to be split into 10 grants, and will provide better access to important services.

The National Aboriginal Health Organization is closing shortly and this has the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada calling on the government to provide Canadians with an alternative governance structure to continue the work of addressing substance abuse, addictions, suicide, high rates of diabetes and infectious diseases.

New research has led to the conclusion that gambling is an addiction and a mental health issue. Problem Gambling in Canada, features a new approach in that it focuses on social influences and the cost of gambling to society as well as the individual.

Prescription narcotic addictions has been a growing problem in Ontario. A group of experts was assembled to address the issue and to come up with ideas on how to best respond to the change. Suboxone treatment programs are among the treatment options in Ontario’s new strategy to help recovering OxyContin users.

Interior Health is providing $200,000 in grants to enhance the quality of public health program delivery among aboriginal residents. The Neskonlith Indian Band will receive $4000 to offer one aboriginal person the opportunity to earn a youth addictions certificate. The person will then be able to take the information home and work within the native community.