Background

The National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation (NNAPF) has been actively involved in addressing commercial tobacco addiction and misuse. Recognizing the severity of tobacco usage in First Nations and Inuit communities, the Foundation has addressed this usage through the training of National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (NNADAP) workers across the country in tobacco cessation practices.

Over the years NNAPF was an active member in the First Nations Inuit Tobacco Control Advisory Circle; has published Deadly Duo, Tobacco and Convenience Foods: The Other Substance Abuse Epidemics Afflicting the First Nations and Inuit of Canada; developed the toolkit entitled Keeping the Sacred in Tobacco: A toolkit for tobacco cessation; engaged in an environmental scan survey on tobacco cessation policies, protocols, and provider compliance in First Nation communities; and delivered workshops across Canada on its Tobacco toolkit. NNAPF also has presented on tobacco addictions and misuse at conferences in Canada and South America.

The National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation participated in the National Advisory Circle on the First Nations and Inuit Tobacco Control Strategy. This is very important, since tobacco usage is of major concern among First Nations peoples and communities. Because addictions workers and those in the addictions field do not address or tend to play a major role in addressing smoking and addiction to nicotine, NNAPF plays an important role in bridging this gap. Furthermore, participating on the National Advisory Circle allows NNAPF to support National decision making in the area of tobacco control strategies and to keep abreast of what is taking place across the country.

NNAPF's presence is appreciated and a good working relationship has occurred between NNAPF, other National organizations, regional representatives working in tobacco, and Health Canada.