The Hanover School Division has cut addictions resources because they simply cannot afford them.

Addictions Foundation Manitoba Counsellor Daniel Daycombe resigned early May and Superintendent Randy Dueck says his shoes will not be filled.

“In order to balance the budget, with the changes that came our way this year, we had to make some cuts,” explains Dueck, “and one of those positions was the AFM counsellor that we’ve had in place for more than a decade

AFM Counsellor Daniel Dacombe no longer works within the Hanover School Division. now.”

Earlier this year, when the Hanover School Board gathered to discuss their budget, they recognized that some difficult decisions lay ahead of them. During this time, they prioritized classroom learning and Dueck says this cut is a reflection of those priorities.

Dueck notes that the responsibilities which formerly fell on the addictions counsellor will be assumed by the school guidance staff who are already stretched thin. He adds that the division’s current guidance counsellors will now be given training to teach them how to deal with student addictions as they rise into this new role.

Meanwhile, Board Chair Ron Falk stresses that removing the AFM employee from the budget does not mean the division does not see addictions as an issue. Indeed, he says drugs only appear to be a rising problem in the southeast.

“As we know from the news, with all of the various break-ins that have happened around the Steinbach area, the situation with meth and many other drugs is not decreasing, it's increasing.”

For this reason, Falk and Dueck both insist that the division will do whatever is in their power to continue providing these services internally.

“These students need help,” comments Falk, “so somehow we need to help these students.”