A northwestern Ontario addictions worker wants to see more support for those turning to opioids.
Justin Boshey, who works in Lac La Croix, about 40 kilometres west of Atikokan, is on a campaign to raise more awareness.
He says youth and young families are most impacted.
“They need more support right now, more than ever. They got to have some kind of transition homes or something immediately for them so that it is safe for them to go home. Right now there is nothing there.”
Boshey says people are overdosing daily, some with tragic outcomes.
He stresses the current system isn’t working and immediate support is needed.
Boshey says the opiate crisis affects our youth negatively in becoming homeless people in our area and cannot be put on hold or a waiting list.
He adds attending their needs is no short term solution, stressing the first phase is a treatment program.
Boshey says when treatment is completed they need a home because leaving them homeless leads them back into the high risk life situation.
The second phase, according to Boshey, is assisting to find a place a home to strengthen their sobriety.
He says the third phase is strengthening their identity.
Boshey says addiction programs inside a community need monetary support to accommodate youth and young adults.
He adds addiction workers need additional and sufficient government funding to save lives.
(With files from Randy Thoms)
