The federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions was in Port Alberni yesterday to see how we’re dealing with the toxic drug crisis.
Carolyn Bennett toured the tiny homes project on 4th Avenue and the overdose prevention site before meeting with care providers.
Courtenay – Alberni MP Gord Johns said there’s an urgent need for federal assistance in Port Alberni.
“We have toxic drug deaths more than double the provincial average, in fact between the age of 19 to 45 we’re almost 5 times the provincial average,” he said. “We’re ground zero of the toxic drug crisis right here in Port Alberni.”
Johns said a treatment and recovery facility is desperately needed in Port Alberni, and he has been pressuring the federal government for increased funding for mental health and addiction recovery programs.
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