The critic for mental health and addictions, Betty Nippi-Albright says addictions are health issues and not moral failings.

At a Saskatoon news conference on Monday, the NDP Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Addictions and the MLA for Saskatoon Centre called on the Sask Party government to take action on addictions in the following areas:

-Expand access to voluntary in-patient treatment by increasing funding for harm reduction and inpatient treatment beds, both on and off reserve.

-Increase in-patient treatment detox services with more stabilization units and ensure seamless transitions from detox to long-term in-patient care.

-Support sober living by expanding and funding sober living homes that provide wraparound services in a safe, supportive environment.

-Build a strategic workforce plan to recruit train, and retain addictions and mental health professionals with incentives for service providers to work in underserved and remote communities.

-Ensure voluntary treatment is reserved for the small minority of individuals whose addictions pose a serious threat to themselves or the public, and only as a last resort.

Nippi-Albright says voluntary treatment remains the most effective and appropriate path for the vast majority of people struggling with substance abuse.