The Montreal Lake Cree Nation officially opened its new crystal methamphetamine detox clinic Monday morning.

The facility is located about 40 kilometres north of Prince Albert on the Little Red reserve.

MLCN Director of Health Clifford Bird said the community has been struggling with the issue of crystal meth addiction for the past four years.

“After the 2015 fires, we recognized a lot of our young people had gotten introduced to crystal meth at the evacuation centres,” he said. “They came home and within six months we had over 100 users and that has since more than quadrupled to over 600 users in the community.”

Bird said a big part of the addiction programming the facility will provide are the necessary supports to ensure people don’t relapse once they are released.

“The crystal meth reduction plan that we have designed is two years, a minimum of two years in length, and the treatment is a large component but it’s not the only thing we are doing under the plan.”

He also said the detox clinic uses traditional methods of healing as part of its addiction treatment program.

With files by Abel Charles.

(PHOTO: The new Montreal Lake Cree Nation crystal meth detox clinic. Photo by Abel Charles.)

With files by Abel Charles.(PHOTO: The new Montreal Lake Cree Nation crystal meth detox clinic. Photo by Abel Charles.)