Manitoba advocate sounds alarm over youth addictions, calls on province for more support

The Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth has seen a significant jump in the number of youth addiction cases it has dealt with over the last four years, and is calling on the provincial government to put more funds toward support and resources.

In 2018-19, just three per cent of the office's cases were related to youth addictions. That number increased to 22 per cent in 2022-23, Manitoba's advocate Sherry Gott said at a news conference Tuesday.

"Children, youth and young adults are increasingly struggling with addiction issues," Gott said at the advocate's office in Winnipeg. "Some are losing their lives."

Most of those cases involved girls and Indigenous youth, Gott said. Over the course of those years, 56 youth deaths were related to possible drug overdose or drug- or alcohol-related incidents, she added.

Gott's office has been looking into the issue over the past year, speaking with 39 youth across Manitoba last fall.

She said many identified substance use as a means to cope with mental health, family issues or painful life experiences, and they said more holistic approaches, accessible supports and post-treatment care are needed.

WATCH | Manitobaadvocate says more youth addictions supports are needed:

Manitoba advocate calls for more youth addictions supports

6 months ago

Duration 0:31

Sherry Gott says youth struggling with addictions in Manitoba lack accessible supports in their communities. The children and youth advocate's office saw the number of youth addiction cases it dealt with jump from three per cent of all cases to 22 per cent in the past four years.

Other youth who have tried accessing support cited a shortage of beds at treatment centres, long waitlists, strict rules within facilities, and being far removed from their home communities.

"Most identified wanting help, but didn't know where to go," she said.

Serviceproviders also proposed solutions, including more resources that offer cultural, land-based approaches, early intervention and more funding.

Additionally, more than 60 per cent of the 263 professionals the advocate's office spoke with "did not believe Manitoba can meet the individual needs of young people with addiction issues."

"This is deeply concerning," Gott said.

Nancy Parker, the executive director of the Winnipeg non-profit Marymound, which provides addictions supports for youth, said the issue stems in part from the toxicity of the drugs available on the streets, coupled with the vulnerability of today's youth.

"What's changed is the nature of the drugs that we're seeing on the streets," she told CBC in a Tuesday interview.

"It's intertwined with mental health, as well as these social issues of poverty and being in care and trauma."

'It's heartbreaking'

Parker said while the province has taken several steps to support youth experiencing addictions, much more work needs to be done. There's a particular gap in community-based services for youth, such as addictions counselling in schools, whichused to be more accessible, she noted.

Reportafter reporthas also highlighted the lack of resources for youth for years.

"This is not new but it continues to worsen," Parker said.

"If you're a family member whose youth is struggling or even close to dying it's heartbreaking."

The Manitoba advocate has been hosting a roundtable with experts, community leaders and the province's frontline staff to tackle the issue, and a report based on that roundtable and other findings is expected to be released later this year.

Gott said she's already seeing the provincial government take steps toward more accessible youth addictions services through their participation in the roundtable.

She said she hopes the government takes action and sees "that there is a crisis in the system" following previous cuts before the NDP government took office, including the closure of the Behavioural Health Foundation's youth addiction services in 2016.

"Any kind of resources, when you make those investments, is a good sign," Gott said. "We need to ask the government to do that immediately."

She said central and northern Manitoba have the biggest gaps in resources.

Families MinisterNahanni Fontainesaidthe increase in the number ofManitoba youth experiencing addictions and mental health issues is a consequence ofcuts made by the former Manitoba Progressive Conservative government.

She pointed to the NDP's 2024 budget,which includesa funding increase to integrated youth services and$1.5 million inspending on a range of addictions supports, including supports for youth.

"It is a core principleof our government to ensure that citizens make it to their 18th birthday, and that we're doing our job to ensure that they've got the supports and the resources that they need," she told reporters at the Manitoba Legislative Building on Tuesday.

Manitoba advocate sounds alarm over youth addictions

6 months ago

Duration 2:24

The Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth has seen a significant jump in the number of youth addiction cases it has dealt with over the last four years, and is calling on the provincial government to put more funds toward support and resources.