NFLD - Waits for gambling treatment unacceptable minister
Last Updated: Friday, February 3, 2006 | 6:47 AM NT
CBC News
Newfoundland and Labrador Health Minister John Ottenheimer admits that people with addictions are waiting too long to get the help they need.
However, Ottenheimer is also defending government efforts to help people who have become addicted to gambling.
In some parts of the province, people with addictions - including those who have become hooked on video lottery terminals - have to wait six months to see a counsellor.
FROM FEB. 2, 2006: VLT addicts wait too long for help: advocate
Ottenheimer says waits of that duration are unacceptable.
At the same time, he said, the provincial government is taking action.
Randy Collins
“We recently announced our addictions campaign, our public awareness campaign. We have included an addictions consultant for the Department of Health and Community Services, and we recently hired five new addictions counsellors,” he said.
Labrador West MHA Randy Collins, who has campaigned to ban VLTs in the province, does not think those efforts respond to people’s needs.
“More money is, of course, the answer,” Collins said.
“More money means that you have more therapists, it means that you have more locations, and it means there would be a variety of services offered.”
Ottenheimer added that other government decisions should help curb gambling.
For instance, the provincial government has capped the number of VLTs in the province, and is limiting to five the number of machines an establishment can lease.
Last year, the provincial government announced more than $700,000 in additional funding for gambling services.
Ottenheimer will not say if that will continue. He said government plans will be revealed in the next budget, which is expected in less than two months.
VLTs are estimated to generate about $70 million per year for the provincial treasury.
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