KENORA, Ont. — Cat Lake First Nation in northern Ontario has declared a state of emergency, estimating seven in 10 adults and youth are abusing prescription medication.

Leaders are looking to Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Health Canada and the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service for help to bring health and order to a pandemic of oxycodone usage.

“Cat Lake First Nation can no longer deal with the situation of prescription drug abuse alone. This effects all of our community, not only the users,” Chief Matthew Keewaykapow said. “Our elders are impacted when they have to worry about providing for their grandchildren as money for food disappears to purchase drugs. We also have general security concerns as vandalism and thefts have increased across the community.”

The community’s spokesman, Russell Wesley, said local peacekeeping forces have been working with police to expedite search warrants.

Cat Lake attempted to pass its own search and seizure law, but when challenged in court, it was found to be unconstitutional. Using conventional methods, officers have made three drug busts in the past two weeks, the first of which was valued at $60,000.

But legal recourse is providing little solace.

“The dealers are out on the streets again in an hour, so I don’t think there’s a short fix to that,” Wesley explained. “You can’t change that without a long process. I think maybe in the regional airports with the regional air carriers, there could be screening devices set up.”

Most recently, the chief and council assembled a task force — which includes addicts — to discuss how to best address the issue. One of the top recommendations was to implement a suboxone program — an opiate substitute in pill form.

Health Canada said workers will be moved into the community; however, no application has been made by Cat Lake First Nations for funding or aid to treat prescription drug abuse.

A spokeswoman said it’s “well positioned” to respond to community-specific programming, but was unable to say how much it would cost without a formal request describing the scope of the problem. She stressed a “sustainable, comprehensive community plan with adequate staff, capacity and training” was necessary.

Ultimately, Wesley sees Cat Lake as a part of a broader problem that permeates the North.

“This isn’t just about Cat Lake,” he said. “This affects every community across the Far North.”