Alcohol and Drug Abuse Amongst Canada’s First Nations

Trois-Rivieres, Quebec – The First Nations, Inuit, and Aboriginal People’s comprise of a large portion of Canada’s population.  They are made up of a rich and unique cultural history; however, their culture has been plagued with alcohol and drug abuse for a very long time.  In the 1970’s the Federal Government developed a pilot program called the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (NNADAP).  It is a Health Canada program, but today is mainly controlled by the First Nations.  The program was specifically designed to help First Nations, Inuit, and Aboriginal communities set up different programs within their communities to help handle the alcohol and drug abuse problems.   During the year 1982, the program was made permanent, because of the very visible problems facing the First Nations people. 

Today the NNADAP is made up of over 550 different prevention programs.  It uses different prevention activities such as:  awareness campaigns, meetings, lectures, school programs, and cultural and spiritual events.  They also provide intervention activities, which deal with the early stages of a drug addiction, and help prevent it from taking hold.  This is done through existing drug abuse programs, recreational and social activities, and cultural programs for youth.  The NNADAP also provides aftercare activities such as:  counselling, sharing circles, support groups, and treatment and detox referrals, combined with social services and medical referrals. 

The Narconon drug rehab program in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, has also made efforts to play a role in supporting Quebec’s local First Nations.  The program offered has helped many from local reservations, where help is desperately needed.  The drug and alcohol problems facing the First Nations in Quebec has been a growing problem.  These types of programs provide support for these communities, but has it proven to be effective.  Continued and ongoing treatment and preventative measures from both the public and private sectors are needed.  The Narconon drug rehab program will continue to do its part in helping First Nations people.  Everybody does deserve a chance to live a happy and drug free life, and this can only be done through effective drug rehabilitation and drug prevention. 

For more information about the Narconon program, or to help someone addicted to drugs or alcohol, call our toll free line at, 1-877-782-7409, or visit our website at, http://narconon.ca/

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