VICTORIA – Health Minister Terry Lake issued the following statement today in recognition of the second annual Recovery Day in Canada:

"Drug and alcohol abuse continue to have a lasting impact on individuals, their families and local communities.

"It is estimated that one out of every five British Columbian residents will be affected by substance abuse or mental health issues each year. These are our neighbours, our co-workers, our friends, and our family members.

"All of us – government, health-care providers, communities, individuals and families – must continue to work together to address the significant health and social impacts of problematic substance use and addiction. This includes learning from those courageous individuals who have acknowledged their dependency and moved into a life of sobriety, and recovery.

"I would like to extend my appreciation to all of the local communities and individuals who are participating in Recovery Day 2013 in B.C. today. These events create an opportunity to celebrate addiction recovery and break down barriers which prevent us from talking about how substance abuse impacts all members of society.

"Healthy Minds, Healthy People – B.C.'s 10-year mental health and substance use plan – is a road map to improving mental health, reducing problematic substance use and addressing mental illness for all British Columbians through prevention, early intervention, treatment, harm reduction and sustainability."