Achi news desk-
Data recently released by the Alberta government shows that First Nations people represent a disproportionate number of the province’s opioid-related deaths.
That includes people in Jody Plaineagle’s family.
“I had an uncle who lost his daughter to addiction,” Plaineagle told Global News.
Across Alberta, provincial government numbers show the rate of unintentional opioid deaths is more than eight times higher among First Nations People.
“They’re fighting for their lives right now,” Plaineagle said. “They’re out there in survival mode trying to fight for their life.”
According to Indigenous Services Canada, only 6.5 per cent of Albertans are indigenous. About half of that, or 3.4 per cent of Albertans are First Nations People.
That demographic represented 20 percent of all unintentional opioid deaths between 2016 and 2022, according to the province’s Alberta Opioid Response Surveillance: First Nations People in Alberta report.
In 2022 alone, that number increased to almost one in four deaths.
The latest health and medical news is emailed to you every Sunday.
“It is very heartbreaking to see the inequality increasing and not decreasing,” said Dr. Esther Tailfeathers. “That tells us there is not an adequate response.”
Tailfeathers have been at the forefront of the opioid fight.
Born and raised on the Blood Tribe, she has seen the effects of these drugs firsthand.
“Our communities are suffering and my heart goes out to the mothers and families who have lost people,” Tailfeathers said.
“These numbers mean something to us.”
She wants more comprehensive support for people dealing with addiction.
“In our government’s interactions with Indigenous leaders, they are asking for support to build capacity for treatment and recovery,” a statement from the press secretary of the ministry of mental health and addiction, Hunter Baril, reads in part.
“Our government is investing more than $180 million to support the construction of five recovery communities in partnership with indigenous communities. Each of these facilities will use a land-based approach and support people to seek recovery and reconnect with their community, family and culture.”
The province says it also hopes the federal government will expand investments for First Nations treatment in Alberta and across Canada.
Tailfeathers fear that support will come too late.
With the 2022 numbers just announced, she is worried about what is happening now.
“We can’t react and respond to what’s going on,” Tailfeathers said.
Making it harder to reverse this worrying trend.
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
