Meth addictions have government's attention: Manitoba health minister
Red Deer AdvocateOct 24, 2018
"Clearly there is evidence that people are migrating to meth — it is cheap, it is easy to produce, it is widely available in our communities,"
An advisory note to the minister of health obtained by the
It also showed
"There needs to be more targeted interventions on meth," NDP opposition Leader Wab Kinew said.
The note said meth is the main reason for non-medical detox, overtaking alcohol, for women at
Numbers from
Kinew called on Premier
A Street Connections survey in 2016-17 found that more than 50 per cent of injection drug users were using meth, an increase from six per cent in 2006.
"The investments we have seen so far are not keeping pace," Kinew said.
Friesen said meth addiction is a complex issue creating challenges across
He said it has the full attention of the government and pointed to the newly opened Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine clinics and additional beds for patients with addictions at
But Friesen added he doesn't think there is such a thing as a safe injection site for methamphetamines.
"This is something we don't want people to be doing, however I want to be clear there is no good option we are taking off the table."