Vancouver/CMEDIA: The province of British Columbia lacks sufficient facilities dedicated to helping those struggling with addiction amid the opioid crisis that has killed more than 15,000 people since declaration of a health emergency was declared in B.C. eight years ago, Les Doiron, vice-president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council was reported to tell a news conference Thursday.
Doiron added that it has had a devastating effect on Indigenous communities.
“Island Health has only two (detox) facilities, one in Nanaimo, one in Victoria… And the First Nations Health Authority has 10 in the entire province…you have to be almost like a lotto winner to be able to get in there…problems that we’re facing,” he said at a news conference in Port Alberni, 85 kilometres west of Nanaimo.
A state of emergency was declared Thursday over the opioid crisis and mental health struggles faced by members of the tribal council representing 14 First Nations along the west coast of Vancouver Island
To support the provincial and federal governments, along with B.C.’s health authorities, there has been a call for “dedicated and substantial funding” to provide meaningful and culturally appropriate trauma-informed services.
Indigenous leaders spoke to reporters about the urgent need for action as the death toll climbs.
Indigenous people died from drug poisonings at more than six times the rate of other B.C. residents last year, figures from the First Nations Health Authority show
Judith Sayers, president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council said First Nations need funding to support overwhelmed workers in their communities and to build detox and rehabilitation centres.
“We are losing too many people, especially young people,” she said.
Premier David Eby called the news “devastating” at an unrelated event on Thursday and added the province will be providing counselling for those who are struggling.
Eby also said the Orca Lelum Youth Wellness Centre in Lantzville, near Nanaimo, will soon have detox facilities for Indigenous youth.
“We’re supporting the First Nations Health Authority with additional treatment sites. But this is real and this is right now for Nuu-chah-nulth, so we’ll make sure that we are there with them for the support that they need,” he said.
The federal government was questioned in the House of Commons on Thursday by Gord Johns, the New Democrat MP for the riding of Courtenay—Alberni, as to why the govt was not doing more to help the tribal council members.
He said the council has had applications for substance use and addictions support through federal programs denied.
“Communities across the country are in crisis. They don’t have the resources they need to support people who are struggling with trauma, mental health and substance use disorders, but the Liberals keep delaying support,” he said.
Federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Ya’ara Saks responded that the government has promised $150 million over three years as part of a national emergency treatment fund and the government will “work directly with communities like the ones the member discussed because we know we need to be there to save lives.”
