In North West Territories someone in need of immediate help with his/her addiction can be admitted to the detox facility with as little as a one or two day waiting period. This stay usually lasts between three and seven days. This solution only provides up to a one week’s reprieve from a life long problem. In order to be admitted to one of the government sponsored residential programs one must first appear in person to have an assessment done and then be recommended to one of the facilities where there is an average of a two to four week waiting list, and one must have been abstinent from all drugs and alcohol for at least one week to be admitted.
In Canada studies have been conducted by CCSA, The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, which relay the following rather alarming facts regarding addiction to drugs or alcohol. Approximately 2,500 or 6.1 % of People from the N.W.T. are binge drinkers, who regularly consume a harmful amount of alcohol and are dependant on alcohol. The same studies indicate that 1.8% or 750 People from the N.W.T. are dependant on illicit drugs.
Being that N.W.T. is a territory that’s population is spread over vast lands this means that depending on where a person lives they may be required to travel some distance in order to receive addictions services, for example there is only one withdrawal management facility servicing the entire territory Located in Yellow Knife which makes it inaccessible to many residents of the N.W.T.
In summary, there are approximately 3,300 People from the N.W.T.in need of detoxification, intervention, and drug rehab or alcohol rehab programs, coupled with ongoing after care. There is 1 Detox facility and an additional 2 residential facilities each of which can accommodate approximately 40 addicts bringing the total number of available Government funded beds to approximately 120 beds to be divided amongst the 3,300 that need treatment. Of the 10 facilities located in the N.W.T. 4 are out patient programs that offer very little support to alcoholics and addicts. There is scarcely enough treatment to make a serious dent in the current addiction problem plaguing this Territory.
All statistical info can be researched at: www.ccsa.ca/CCSA/EN/Statistics/GeneralHealthAndAddictionsStatistics.htm
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