A child and youth advocate in Manitoba involved in substance abuse services

Manitoba's child and youth advocate says there are significant gaps in services for youth struggling with substance abuse, and she's calling on the provincial government to develop a youth-focused strategy.

Sherry Gott said Manitoba has an ongoing drug abuse crisis affecting youth and urgent action is needed to prevent more harm.

“Children, youth and adolescents are increasingly struggling with drug addiction problems. Some are losing their lives,” Gott said at a press conference on Tuesday.

According to Gott, in the 2018/2019 fiscal year, only three per cent of Manitoba bar cases were related to addiction. In 2022/2023, this number has increased significantly to 22 percent.

He said the cases were mostly women and local youths, which accounted for 80 percent of the total cases.

According to him, between 2018 and 2023, 56 teenagers died in incidents related to alcohol or drugs.

Twenty-eight of those youths, Goth said, are slated for review with the Manitoba Child and Youth Advocate (MACY). The age of the deceased was between 13 and 20. The average age was 17 years.

“An analysis of child mortality reviews for adverse childhood experiences found that substance use, exposure to family violence and neglect were the main risk factors of concern,” he said.

Last fall, Gott's team spoke with 39 young people in Manitoba about how to improve care and support.

Many have identified substance use as a way of coping with life's pressures, whether it be mental health or family issues. Many said they wanted help but didn't know where to go.

Others who could afford support had problems with care, including being too far from their community, long waiting lists and bed shortages.

Goth said his team also spoke with 263 clinical and non-clinical professionals, including those working in child welfare, justice and addictions.

More than 61 percent of respondents do not believe the province can meet the individual needs of youth with substance abuse problems, and less than 10 percent believe existing services are equipped to deal with the crisis.

“In other words, 90 percent of service providers believe they have failed young people with substance abuse problems. It's very disturbing,” says Gott.

Urges the province to develop a youth mental health and addictions strategy

This week, MACY held a roundtable discussion with experts, stakeholders and the provincial government to explore these issues.

The goal is to develop an intersystem strategy. Their findings will be published in a special report later this year.

Gott hopes the provincial government will hear his concerns and develop a youth mental health and addictions strategy. He also hopes the Kineu government will reverse cuts in recent years, including to the Behavioral Health Foundation's youth treatment facilities in Winnipeg and Selkirk.

“I hope they see that there is a crisis in the system.”

CTV News Winnipeg has reached out to the province for comment and is awaiting a response.