The Northern Health Region has released its Community Health Assessment, and substance use continues to be a significant issue in the area.

 

The NRHA saw nearly 56 hundred residents diagnosed with a substance use disorder between 2010/11 and 2014/15.

 

The health authority says that represents 10.8 per cent of the NRHA population aged 18 and older, and is higher than the provincial average of 5.9 per cent.

 

The Northern Health Region says much work has gone into improving care for those with substance abuse disorders. Those include the RAAM clinic that was built in Thompson, enhanced harm reduction initiatives such as take home naloxone kits to prevent death from opioid overdose, and making safer drug use equipment available across the region.

 

On the flip side, teen births have decreased considerably in northern Manitoba.

 

The adolescent birth rate went from 104.6 per 1000 females aged 15 to 19 to 85.6 between 2012/13 and 2016/17.

 

The NRHA says teen births can sometimes be related to negative outcomes for both the mother and the child, due to it being linked with social inequalities such as poverty.

 

The health authority says it’s worked on programs to support healthy pregnancy, including increased support in the prenatal programs by public health nurses.

 

The NRHA adds that teen clinics cater to the needs of the adolescent population and healthy sexuality programs, including provision of free condoms and discussions about safe sex practices.

 

The full assessment can be found on the Northern Health Region's website.