First Nations people face major challenges such as high
unemployment, poverty, poor access to education, poor
housing, remote location from health services, the displacement
of Indigenous language and culture, and social
and economic marginalization; all of which continue
to impact their health and well-being. In this context,
substance use issues and associated mental health issues
continue to be some of the more visible and dramatic
symptoms of these underlying challenges. The use and
abuse of substances has been consistently noted as a top
priority by First Nations people and leadership. In fact,
a national survey of First Nations communities (completed
between 2008–2010) reported that alcohol and
drug use and abuse was considered to be the number one
challenge for community wellness faced by on-reserve
communities (82.6% of respondents), followed by housing
(70.7%) and employment (65.9%).1
| Authors | Fondation autochtone nationale de partenariat pour la lutte contre les dépendances |
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