Over the next three nights, an expert in the field of youth addictions prevention and treatment will be providing a national perspective on best practices for youth substance use and addictions prevention and treatment at public consultations being held across the province. These meetings are the next steps in validating the Draft PEI Youth Substance Use and Addictions Strategy as a provincial youth addictions advisory group is formed.
Last week the Draft PEI Youth Substance Use and Addictions Strategy was released on the government website along with a list of questions to be discussed at the upcoming public meetings. The full document can be found at: www.gov.pe.ca/go/youthstrategy.
Doug Currie, Minister of Health and Social Services and Seniors, says, “This is an opportunity for the public to provide input to help validate findings in the strategy. The consultation process and formation of an advisory committee will go a long way in helping to develop long-term solutions for Island youth dealing with substance use and addiction.”
Gary Roberts will be providing his perspective on best practices for youth substance use and addictions prevention and treatment.
Gary Roberts is internationally recognized for his work in prevention strategies for youth. Mr. Roberts was associated with the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) for 12 years. He has provided leadership for several investigations into good practice in prevention, including a participatory research project on assessing and mobilizing communities for the United Nations-World Health Organization Global Initiative on the Primary Prevention of Substance Abuse.
Don Gorveatt, Manager of Community Mental Health and Addictions for the Department of Health, will present the Draft Strategy to the public. Consultants Wendy MacDonald, who helped develop the strategy report, and Basil Haire, an expert in youth services, will help facilitate the upcoming public consultations.
Public consultations begin in Charlottetown tonight in the lecture theatre at Colonel Gray High School, on Tuesday, December 18, in the gymnasium at Montague Intermediate School, and Wednesday, December 19, in the cafeteria at Three Oaks High School in Summerside. All three meetings start at 6:45 p.m.