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553 - 7/20/2019 11:29:00 AM  

Making Our Community Safer
Government of Canada invests in new measures to address the opioid crisis and emerging drug threats

For Immediate Release - July 18, 2019

The opioid crisis represents the most serious public health issue in Canada’s recent history. At the same time, the rise of methamphetamine use presents unique challenges and serious health harms. Additional measures are needed to both address the opioid crisis and respond to emerging threats, like methamphetamines. 

“Guelph continues to see a rise in overdoses, and fatalities, relating to opioids and other substances being used on the street through illegal and unsafe supply.  Through increased funding and support, the federal government is addressing saving lives and reducing harm in Guelph by providing safe supply in a clinical environment to assist the most vulnerable in our community while at the same time making our community safer.”
Lloyd Longfield, MP for Guelph

Today, on behalf of the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, MP Lloyd Longfield, highlighted recent federal government funding up to an additional $76.2 million to address the opioid crisis and problematic substance use. This brings the total recent investment to more than $100 million, including $30.5 million from Budget 2019. 

These investments include:

$41.8 million to scale up key life-saving measures in underserved communities, 
$33.6 million to mitigate the impacts of the illegal drug supply, and 
$31.3 million to identify and address emerging drug threats, and the growing use of methamphetamines.

To support the smaller cities, rural communities and remote regions increasingly affected by the opioid crisis, the Government of Canada is expanding access to key life-saving measures. This includes distributing naloxone kits and providing opioid overdose response training to individuals, staff and volunteers at public facilities as well as incorporating overdose response training into existing first aid training programs. The Government will also support projects that offer new or expanded access to harm reduction services, provide opioid agonist treatment in underserved communities and help to connect people to health and social services.   

Through innovative pilot projects, the federal government will also increase access to and evaluate pharmaceutical-grade medications as safer alternatives to the contaminated illegal drug supply. Pharmaceutical-grade medications can serve as a treatment for people with severe opioid use disorders. At the same time, these initiatives will connect people to other health and social services as well as provide valuable evidence to support the development of best practices. 

“The WGDS welcomes the opportunity to work with our community partners to apply for federal funding to bring additional resources to respond effectively to the high rates of opioid and meth use in our community.  WGDS partner organizations have already taken many steps to develop creative, practical and timely responses to meet the needs of community members who struggle with substance use.  Enhancing harm reduction initiatives, new approaches to supporting stimulant users and providing pharmaceutical grade safe supplies are all areas that local partners are well positioned to pursue. WGDS partners are excited by the possibilities that this new funding provides.”
Adrienne Crowder
Manager, Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy

The Government of Canada is also taking steps to respond to other emerging drug threats by funding new projects to address problematic methamphetamine use, building knowledge of effective interventions, and breaking down barriers that prevent people who use drugs from seeking help. It will also develop an early warning system and expanded data collection to allow early detection and intervention on emerging issues related to substance use.

As part of these investments, the Minister launched two calls for proposals: approximately $50 million for initiatives through Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program and approximately $3.5 million through the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Pathways to Care. 

“We were thrilled to see the announcement from Health Canada focusing on enhancing harm reduction strategies to address the current substance use challenges facing our country, provinces and communities.  Guelph CHC has been a proud leader in delivering integrated harm reduction services alongside our many partners in Guelph for the past several years, including the opening of our supervised consumption services at the Centre in 2018.  We are grateful for the many proactive and courageous health policy changes enabled by our federal government, including the most recent announcement related to providing safer drug supply.  These investments will inarguably save lives, and we look forward to applying for funds to further expand harm reduction opportunities for the community members of Guelph.”
Raechelle Devereaux
Executive Director, Guelph Community Health Centre


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