MORE FUNDING NEEDED

Last month, federal Solicitor General Lawrence McCally released results of
a study at the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, regarding the
relationship between substances used and criminal activity. It said that
the best time to deal with people who have substance abuse problems is
while they are in jail.

While we agree that more treatment should be provided to the inmates with a
substance abuse problem, ideally, treatment intervention should take place
before the individual resorts to criminal activity in the first place.

Other studies have shown that 25 to 30 per cent of hospitalized patients
are there for alcohol or drug-related problems, but that 80 per cent of
these patients are not identified as having a substance-abuse problem.

With more early identification and treatment available for substance
abusers, fewer people would end up in hospital or jail.

Ontario Health Minister Tony Clement recently announced a two per cent
increase in the funding of Ontario's addiction treatment programs. While
this funding is welcomed, it is not enough to meet service pressures.

Addictions are a +ACQ-9-billion problem in Ontario, but the provincial
government spends one per cent of that on addiction treatment. Addiction
treatment reduces pressure on hospital emergency rooms and the criminal
justice systems. Addictions, left untreated, lead to family breakdown.

We urge the provincial and federal governments to respond to needs of the
addiction treatment system and Ontarians affected by substance use issues.

Paul Wagler

Past Chair, Withdrawal Management Association of Ontario

Owen Sound