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Manitoba child advocate sees 'significant' increase in youth addiction calls – Winnipeg Free Press

Posted on by Neons

WINNIPEG – A Manitoba child and youth advocate is calling on the province to develop a youth-focused addiction strategy.

Sherry Gott says her office is seeing a significant increase in the number of young people trying to access substance abuse services, and says the province needs to stay out of it.

He said that in the last five years, his office has seen a 3 percent increase in the number of requests for protection for young people living with drug addiction to 22 percent.

Manitoba Child and Youth Advocate Sherry Gott is pictured in her office in Winnipeg, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. Gott is urging the province to develop a youth-focused addictions strategy after seeing a significant increase in the number of young people in his office. people trying to access addiction services. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Manitoba Child and Youth Advocate Sherry Gott is pictured in her office in Winnipeg, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. Gott is urging the province to develop a youth-focused addictions strategy after seeing a significant increase in the number of young people in his office. people trying to access addiction services. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Goth said most of the victims were young women and local youth.

His office also heard that more education and outreach, cultural and place-based programming and long-term support services are needed.