OTTAWA - The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, announced today over $1.7 million in Government of Canada funding support for three projects in Yukon under the National Anti-Drug Strategy; the first project focuses on drug treatment services and the other two on drug prevention aimed at youth.
"Our Government remains committed to working with Yukon and its communities to help prevent illicit drug use and improve the quality of drug treatment services," said Minister Aglukkaq. "Today's investment is aimed at ensuring our partners are equipped with the tools they need to educate young people about the negative consequences of taking drugs, and in the case of the Yukon Department of Health and Social Services, helping to provide early intervention treatment solutions for youth."
For the treatment project, Yukon Health and Social Services will strengthen the Alcohol and Drugs Services (ADS) detoxification and treatment systems through the development and implementation of service standards and improved program evaluation and performance measurement capacity. Government of Canada funding for this project is $1,467,465 over four years.
"The funding provided by Health Canada to improve treatment systems has provided a significant opportunity for Yukon Health and Social Services to enhance existing evidence informed practices and program evaluation mechanisms, which will ultimately strengthen Detox and Treatment Services in Yukon," said Yukon Health and Social Services Minister Glenn Hart. "Additional funding to the two other projects will also greatly benefit our efforts to better educate and support our youth."
The Health and Social Service's Health Promotion Unit is also receiving program funds to educate and inform youth, ages 12 to 15, through a theatrical performance about illicit drugs and their adverse health and social effects, while simultaneously highlighting the positive effects of healthy lifestyle choices. Performed by youth, The Yukon Educational Theatre Illicit Drug Awareness Play will be presented at rural and urban schools and community centres throughout Yukon. Health Canada will be providing $128,322 in total funding over two years for this project.
Yukon's Youth of Today Society is another organization receiving funding to provide outreach to at-risk youth by giving them the opportunity to participate in activities that promote healthy behaviours and create a supportive environment to discourage drug use. The program aims to empower at-risk youth by increasing their resiliency and coping skills to avoid engaging in drug use through the following activities: promotion of a community drug awareness campaign, which includes producing and distributing a drug awareness calendar, designing and painting a community mural and providing an art education program for high risk youth. This project would be for all at-risk youth residing in Whitehorse. The total funding for this project is $128,322 over two years.
"These funds will benefit at risk youth in Whitehorse and the community at large to address illicit drug use", said Victoria Durant, Executive Director, Youth of Today Society.
Initiatives such as these are another step in implementing the Government of Canada's National Anti-Drug Strategy, which was announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in October 2007.
Please visit the National Anti-Drug Strategy website for more information.
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Media Enquiries:
Health Canada
(613) 957-2983
Jenny Van Alstyne
Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Federal Minister of Health
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