Local addiction services have been cut and
more cuts and layoffs could be coming by April 1 because of
gross underfunding say the three unions representing addiction
service workers in the Sudbury region.
Representatives from OPSEU Local 666 at
Pinegate Addiction Services, along with Mine Mill Local 598/CAW
at the Northern Regional Recovery Continuum for Women, and the
United Steelworkers of America at the Salvation Army Addiction
and Rehabilitation for Men, made a presentation to the
priorities committee of city council Jan. 22 outlining their
concerns about these cuts.
Publicly funded addiction services have been
seriously neglected for the past 11 years. The system is in
crisis and the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care is
refusing to adequately address the problems and the devastating
effects that under-funding causes here and all across
Ontario.
Waiting lists are growing, services are being
cut and the added pressure on a stressed system has become
difficult for consumers and staff alike.
They stubbornly refuse to adequately fund
these important services with clear knowledge of the severe
consequences on families, individuals, children and the
communities they live in.
This month the Ministry and the Northeast
Mental Health Centre approved the co-location/co-educational
delivery of the Pinegate Men's and Women's Withdrawal
Management Service cutting beds from 28 to 13 for both men and
women. This despite the connection between childhood
victimization and the development of women's alcohol-related
problems, and professional advice to provide women -centered
and gender-specific services that are safe and provide
protection from harassment and fear.
The ministry's document Setting the Course
makes one think they are on top of the situation, but the
reality is they have abandoned the addictions field. There has
been no increase to the base funding for these services over
the past 11 years other than a mere two per cent last
year.
Dave Wiley
President
OPSEU
Local 666