Gas sniffing in Natuashish needs 'collaborative approach' for solutions

Newfoundland and Labrador politicians say they're working together to come up with a solution for gas sniffing in Natuashish, but the problem has persisted for decades and there's no simple answer.

CBC News reported Thursday the deputy chief of the Innu Nation in the small Labrador community found a group of young people sniffing gas at a trashed, abandoned home when he was searching for a gas can stolen from his property.

• Natuashish youth found sniffing gas at abandoned home

A 14-year-old girl in Natuashish told CBC News she used to sniff gas for several years before giving it up, but some of her friends still do it because there's "nothing else to do" in the community.

You see images like that and it hits you to your core and believe me, if there was a cure out there we would have found it by now.- Liberal MHA Randy Edmunds

The problem is one that's persisted for years in the area, and Child Youth and Family Services Minister Sandy Collins said a mental health counsellor was dispatched to Natuashish Thursday afternoon to help address the issue.

However, he said there are more issues at hand than just gas sniffing.

"I think we've made huge improvements over the last number of years and decades, certainly, but it's not eradicated and when you're dealing with mental health and addictions it's not easy," said Collins.

"There's no silver bullet to try to alleviate these things, but we want to make sure we have the services in place that can best deal with them."

'Strive toward a solution'

Randy Edmunds, the Liberal MHA for the area, said officials are "desperate for solutions," and all government departments needs to work together.

"You don't look to criticize on an issue like this, you strive toward a solution and that's what we're all about in a situation like this," said Edmunds.

"There's times when in opposition you want to paint a bad picture for government, but in situations like this you work together, you try to find a solution and it's an ongoing process."

Edmunds added that all levels of government need to be involved if there's ever going to be a real solution to gas sniffing, but it's a long road ahead.

"You see images like that and it hits you to your core and believe me, if there was a cure out there we would have found it by now."