Prescription drug abuse funding includes money for remote First Nations

As part of a $15 million investment in fighting prescription drug abuse (PDA) in the province, the Ontario government is pledging $2 million to Aboriginal initiatives.
In an announcement made on Oct. 17, Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews outlined a series of investments geared at an opioid addiction problem that she called the worst in Canada.
Funding geared at Aboriginal initiatives to combat PDA will include money for 130 units of telemedicine equipment, such as videoconferencing equipment, to help addiction treatment and counseling services in remote communities.
“The announcement is a critical step in addressing narcotic drug abuse, an issue that has been identified as a priority by Aboriginal communities,” said Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Kathleen Wynne in a press release. “With First Nations and Métis leadership, and the advice of the Expert Working Group, we look forward to expanding the programs that help build healthy communities.”
Besides telemedicine equipment, the $2 million for Aboriginal PDA initiatives will be used to support the Trilateral First Nations Senior Officials Committee. The committee, which includes representatives from Ontario, Canada and the Chiefs of Ontario, has developed a work plan to address on-reserve narcotic addiction.
In a press release, the Ontario government stated that the funding for Aboriginal initiatives will also be used to support Aboriginal people living off-reserve.
“The ministry will work through urban Aboriginal organizations and Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) to determine local needs,” the press release stated. “The funds will support the creation of education and training programs and improve co-ordination of services serving urban Aboriginal peoples.”
First Nations in northern Ontario have been calling for help for PDA for years. In 2009 Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) declared a state of emergency for all 49 NAN communities due to PDA. Eabametoong and Cat Lake have declared their own states of emergencies since that time, with both communities estimating that over 70 percent of people living on-reserve are addicted to prescription drugs.
Besides the Aboriginal initiatives being funded under the new plan, Ontario is pledging to increase addiction treatment and counseling for pregnant women and mothers, and increase provision of methadone and Suboxone treatment programs across the province.
The funding will run through the 14 LHINs in Ontario, based on need, Ontario’s press release stated.
The government also said it will increase public education around the risks of opioids, and outreach to health care providers and other high risk populations.
Ontario estimates that 50,000 people in the province are addicted to narcotics, and the number of babies born with narcotic addiction at 4.3 per 1000 births.
Matthews has requested that her federal counterpart, Leona Aglukkaq, ban generic OxyContin from being sold in Canada once the patent on the drug expires in November.
So far the federal government has not officially responded to the request.