The information presented in this section is meant to provide an overview of key issues and activities for each province and territory across Canada. Please help us to keep this section as comprehensive and up to date as possible by contacting us with your comments, revisions, updates and additions.
Key Substance Abuse-Related Agencies
Treatment Agencies in Northwest Territories
Territorial Drug Strategy or Framework
Substance Use Statistical Highlights for Northwest Territories
Key Guiding Documents
Department of Health and Social Services: Mental Health and Addiction Services
Under the direction of the Minister, the Department of Health and Social Services is mandated to provide a broad range of health and social programs and services to the residents of the NWT. The Department’s responsibilities are reflected in its mission statement and vision:
The Department’s mission is to promote, protect and provide for the health and well-being of the people of the Northwest Territories.
The Department's vision is that people will be supported to live balanced lives by promoting, protecting and restoring their well-being (Integrated Service Delivery Model, 2004).
The NWT health and social services system is made up of the Department and eight Health and Social Services (HSS) Authorities. In addition, there are non-governmental organizations and private professionals (including dentists) who provide services through agreements with the Department and/or Authorities.
Eight HSS Authorities plan, manage and deliver a full spectrum of community and facility-based services for health care and social services.
Community health programs include daily drop-in clinics, public health clinics, home care, school health programs and educational programs. Visiting physicians and specialists routinely visit the communities. Social service programs include early intervention and support to families and children, child protection services, adoptions, family violence prevention, mental health, addictions and corrections.
Boards of trustees for each HSS Authority provide NWT residents with the opportunity to shape priorities and service delivery for their communities.
NWT residents have access to a wide range of mental health and addiction services that will be delivered through Primary Community Care Teams (see NWT Primary Care Framework) through collaborative practice at the community, regional and territorial levels.
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The NWT adult residential addictions treatment centre is Nats'ejée K'éh Treatment Centre, a 30-bed facility located on the Hay River Reserve.
Currently, there is no residential addiction treatment program for children and youth located in the NWT, but the NWT provides access to these services in southern Canada. The Department provides access to children and youth programs through the NWT HSS Authorities. The Community Counselling Programs are the primary point of contact for access to addiction treatment services, or individuals can contact their community health and social services office for more information.
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In 2003, the Department developed an Integrated Service Delivery Model (ISDM), which is the new framework for health and social services in the Northwest Territories. ISDM supports integrated, coordinated care, which is the foundation of a Primary Health Care model, or Primary Community Care model, as it is known in the NWT. ISDM has identified six core services, one of which is Mental Health and Addiction Services.
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Substance Use Statistical Highlights for the Northern Territories
NWT Addiction Survey [PDF]
Department of Health and Social Services, January 2006
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NWT Addiction Survey [PDF]
NWT Health and Social Services, January 2006
Stay the Course…and Together We Can Secure the Foundation that Has Been Built—An Interim Report on the Mental Health and Addictions Services in the NWT
Dr. Jennifer H. Chalmers, Liz Cayen, M.Sc., MDE, Dr. Cheryl Bradbury &
Sharon Snowshoe, December 2005
Integrated Service Delivery Model for the NWT Health and Social Services System
Detailed Description [PDF]
A Plain Language Summary [PDF]
NWT Health and Social Services, March 2004
A State of Emergency—A Report on the Delivery of Addictions Services in the NWT
Chalmers & Associates Consulting Ltd, May 2002