EDMONTON, AB –Laurie Hawn, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre, announced today, on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, $6,488,367 in funding support for an early intervention drug treatment services project aimed at youth.
“The Government of Canada remains committed to working with the province to help prevent illicit drug use and improve the quality of drug treatment services,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “Today’s investment is aimed at ensuring that at-risk youth in Alberta receive the most efficient and effective care possible when it comes to drug treatment services.”
The “In Roads” project will assist organizations that serve youth in trouble with the law, youth who are at-risk of being sexually exploited, who are homeless, or have mental or health concerns by enhancing the competencies of service providers working in addictions and non-addictions settings.
“Regardless of which youth facility or program youth enter, these organizations will have the capacity to intervene early in a way that is meaningful to youth,” said Mr. Hawn. “Early intervention is important to help keep our communities’ healthy, safe and drug free.”
Initiatives such as this one are another step in implementing the Government of Canada’s National Anti-Drug Strategy, which was announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in October 2007.
“The funding announced today will help Alberta Health Services and recipient organizations to build internal capacity, while increasing program delivery to at-risk youth across Alberta,” said Dr. Stephen Duckett, Alberta Health Services President and Chief Executive Officer.
The federal government’s Treatment Action Plan under the National Anti-Drug Strategy provides $100M over five years in support of innovative and effective approaches to treating and rehabilitating individuals who pose a risk to themselves and the community. This plan promotes collaboration among governments and supports agencies to increase access to drug treatment services. This plan enhances treatment and support for First Nations and Inuit people; provides treatment programs for young offenders with drug-related problems; enables the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to refer youth with drug-related problems to treatment programs; and supports research on new treatment models.
Please visit the National Anti-Drug Strategy website (http://www.nationalantidrugstrategy.gc.ca/ ) for more information.