Improved Services for Women and Youth with Addictions

Women and youth in rural Nova Scotia will soon have access to more services to prevent and treat addictions.

Health Minister Jamie Muir announced today, Sept. 27, that the Department of Health is investing $1.8 million to enhance community-based addiction services. As part of that strategy, the district health authorities are hiring 26 new addiction workers.

New staff will work with schools, youth and women's groups, community groups, and other health-care providers to increase prevention efforts and to reduce the harm caused by addictions. They will also deliver more treatment programs, such as mobile clinics, group counselling sessions and day treatment programs that are tailored to the needs of women and youth.

"An important goal of this government is to help Nova Scotians be healthier by increasing access to the care they need in their communities," said Mr. Muir. "In this case, we're bringing more addiction services out into the community to reach women and youth where they live, work and go to school."

The minister made the announcement in Enfield, a fast-growing area where the district health authority will open a new office and increase their addictions team from one to five staff. He said the enhanced programming for women and youth addresses a longstanding need in rural areas, and is based on consultations with a number of task groups, committees and community organizations.

Greg Purvis, director of addiction services for the Colchester East Hants, Cumberland and Pictou County Health Authorities, said it will be a significant improvement to services offered in his area and throughout rural Nova Scotia.

"Treatment will be enhanced but we'll also be able to focus more upstream. Instead of waiting for people to seek treatment, we can do more outreach and help people earlier before they have serious problems. That's especially important with youth," said Mr. Purvis. "This is really a long-term investment in the health of individuals, families and communities."

There are currently some services for women and youth, but not on a provincewide basis. Most of the specialized treatment programs

• Choices, for youth, and Matrix, for women -- are located in the Capital Health district.

"The two biggest barriers facing youth are that programs are simply not available, or if available they're not accessible to youth living in remote or isolated areas," said Clarie Chafe, one of the newly hired community health workers for youth in Enfield. "This enhanced community-based programming will change that."

Evidence shows that people have more success when the programs are tailored to their needs and when they receive treatment close to home, where family, friends and community can support them.

Dawn Peters, a new community health worker for women in Pictou, said women face unique barriers.

"Women with addictions may also be dealing with relationship issues, physical or sexual abuse. They may not feel safe or comfortable in treatment with men, where they are usually outnumbered," she said.

Ms. Peters said women may also be dealing with financial issues and lack adequate childcare or transportation. Providing mobile treatment clinics close to the woman's home during school hours, for example, might help overcome these barriers.

More than 100 provincial addictions workers, including most of the new staff for women and youth programs, are attending a two-day addictions workshop in Pictou on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. Dr. William Miller, a leading expert in addictions counselling, will help them further develop skills to motivate and keep clients in treatment programs.