Thank you, Mr. Dent. I don't have a program here. The motion is in order. To the motion, please.

Question

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Carried.

---Carried

Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are into the last section of our report. It deals with people with addictions.

People With Addictions

This Is What We Heard About Addictions

Mr. Chairman, this is what we heard about addictions. Addiction is a major factor behind many health and social service problems in the Northwest Territories. Our ability to address these problems today will largely determine the demands that may be placed on our front line workers tomorrow. We asked people for their views on the nature of the problem and the manner in which it should be addressed. Here is what we heard.

Addiction Remains One Of Our Greatest Challenges

Front line workers we surveyed identified alcohol and drugs as the major issues facing their communities.

This self-destructive behaviour produces physical, psychological, social, economic and legal problems for people with addictions, their families and their communities. We heard of the terrific difficulties that people and officials face just trying to keep illegal alcohol and drugs from entering their areas.

The human and social cost of this problem is enormous. It seems to play a role in most of the cases handled through our community health centres. It is linked to many of the local offenses and criminal matters that come before the courts. We heard that there is a clear connection between addiction and domestic abuse, sexual assault and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

We Need More Effective Treatment And Support Services

We heard requests for more and better means of providing care for people with addictions, their families and communities. There are a number of problems to be resolved before that can happen. Many people still do not have a complete understanding of the nature and dangers of substance abuse. There is a lack of cooperation between government officials. There is even confusion about which department or departments are responsible for addressing these issues. There is also a shortage of adequate community-based treatment and follow-up programs.

We heard that current treatment methods are not working. We were told that there are too few detoxification facilities in the Northwest Territories to properly accommodate the number of people waiting to take the 28 day rehabilitation treatment program. Additional arrangements must be explored if we are to cope with the volume of patients. One option may lie in those hospitals which are not operating at full capacity. A number of hospital beds are currently going unused. It was suggested that they could be used as part of our detoxification program, but this program is seen as largely ineffective if no other treatment or follow-up measures are provided.

People support a system of care that treats the whole family instead of people with addictions alone. Respected elders should be considered as counsellors to individuals and families. There are also requests for more effective public education activities.

Gambling Has Become Recognized As An Addiction

We heard that gambling has become more than just a popular fund raising and personal pastime; it has become addiction in its own right. Bingo, played in halls over the radio, is clearly a concern to the people of most communities. We were told of alcoholics who have switched their addiction to gambling.

A number of social programs have been linked to this increase in bingo and other gambling activities. These problems include neglect of children by their parents, people betting away social assistance payments, absenteeism from work and the total disruption of family life.

People proposed a number of solutions to address these and other gambling related problems. These actions include restricting lottery licences and prize money and legislating the number of games allowed in a community during the year.

People With Addictions

This Is What We Recommend In The Area Of Addictions

Mr. Chairman, this is what we recommend in the area of addictions. Proper and effective treatment and follow up programs should be provided to people with addictions. These programs should encourage the involvement of the family as a whole and not just be limited to the affected individual.

Everyone has a role to play in these activities. The people of our communities need to unite and confront their problems together. We must support one another in our effort to promote sobriety, a drug-free society and a healthier lifestyle.

Part of the process of treating addiction is recognizing that there is a problem in the first place. Gambling should therefore be recognized and treated as an addiction every bit as serious as alcohol and drugs.

Government can not hope to counter the problem of addiction on its own. A number of non-governmental organizations are important partners in this effort. These groups should be encouraged and supported in their activities.

Despite best efforts to control the flow of alcohol and drugs, a number of other substances are available to people with addictions. These include a range of solvents, gasoline and other products that can cause serious harm to individuals, their families and the community if misused. Unfortunately, these products are readily available.

I'd like to start with recommendation number 29, Mr. Chairman. Too many people remain unaware or unconvinced of the dangers of addiction. Conventional communications activities are not working. We must improve our public information activities if measures to fight this problem are to be successful.

Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I move that this committee recommend that more effective public education programs must be developed which outline the dangers of addiction, including gambling and solvent abuse.

Thank you, Mr. Koe. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? Was that a motion? Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Chairman, just with regard to gambling. Is the intent of the motion to also have zero tolerance in that area too? We can have legislation that can be created for casinos, or is that out of the question with regard to this motion? We are in a time, Mr. Chairman, where I think we do have financial problems. We have to look at other ways of creating revenues. I thought in the Yukon they were looking at legislation to create casinos. I don't support gambling but I just wanted some clarification on that, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Gargan. Indeed, I understand there is a plan to try and see if we can make money on casinos and gambling. Mr. Koe.

At this stage the committee is not recommending zero tolerance to gambling. What it is recommending is that a communication program of some sort has to be developed and include gambling in it. Currently there are pamphlets, videos and different information about drugs and alcohol but there is nothing out on gambling. One of the biggest concerns from our front line workers and from all our people is that gambling is a problem and should be recognized. One of the greatest roadblocks in attempting to deal with any kind of addiction is the widespread denial that there is a problem. In this report we are attempting to report very clearly that it is a problem, it is recognized by those who work in the area, I think it's recognized by individuals who have the problem. We are encouraging the government to get the information out to the public in the most effective way possible. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Koe. To the motion. Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Chairman, I think in this case you have to look at the less of two evils. In most communities that have dealt with addiction problems -- and when I refer to addiction in this case it's alcohol addiction -- most people will go to the second best thing and that's gambling. I don't know whether encouraging something like this would drive them back to drinking or not. I just thought I would bring that up as a concern because I know a lot of front line workers who are going to bingos and gambling as an alternative to drinking. That's just a concern I want to express.

Thank you. To the motion. Mr. Lewis.

Most of the sins we have, like smoking, snuff and drinking beer, the government taxes; the idea is that if you tax something it will have some effect on people's behaviour. But this one addiction, this gambling business, is not legislated, it's not something that you can easily tax. Every other government looks at these sins that people engage in to find ways of squeezing the money out of it. We've always been afraid to legislate gambling because it would seem to condone it. It would seem to say it's okay. It's okay to have beer and it's okay to have all these other things, and we have all these things available to us that are supposed to damage your health and cause you trouble and difficulty. If you really want to have the same consistency, if you like, in the way we handle our sins, we should try to find ways to tax it. The claim is that if you tax something it will change it somehow. I don't know if there's that much logic to it but I have noted that that's one thing you can't tax because whatever you win, you win.

Thank you. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Members. Recommendation 30. Communities wishing to rid themselves of alcohol and drugs face a number of problems. Smuggling and other illegal activities ensure that there is a supply for those willing to pay the price. Local officials and volunteers should be encouraged in their efforts to control these substances.

Local measures to reduce the flow of alcohol and illegal drugs into our communities must be actively supported.

Thank you. Your motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried