Ministers Philpott, Wilson-Raybould and Goodale reflect on Canada's Opioid Crisis During National Addictions Awareness Week
Statement
November 13-19, 2016
November 13 to 19 marks National Addictions Awareness Week - an opportunity to shine a spotlight on different forms of addiction and on solutions to address related harms. This year, with a substantial increase in accidental overdoses and deaths, we would like to direct our attention to Canada’s opioid crisis.
Parts of our country, particularly British Columbia and Alberta, have been hit especially hard by overdoses related to fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid. In fact, in BC and Alberta today, we are seeing more people die from opioid use than from automobile accidents.
The Government of Canada recognizes that in order to effectively address this crisis, it is crucial that we approach it comprehensively and by working across departments, with all levels of government, and with partners from across the country.
To that end, in June 2016 our government launched an Opioid Action Plan. In addition to prevention, treatment and enforcement measures, the Action Plan recognizes harm reduction as a key component to addressing addiction in its various forms. The RCMP is also raising awareness of the dangers of opioid misuse and better equipping front-line officers with the necessary tools and training to effectively respond to accidental exposure and overdoses. Furthermore, programs like Justice Canada’s Drug Treatment Court Funding Program aim to reduce crime committed as a result of drug dependency.
This year’s National Addictions Awareness Week also includes the Opioid Conference and Summit on November 18 and 19 in Ottawa, and will be co-hosted by the Honourable Jane Philpott, Canada’s Minister of Health, and the Honourable Eric Hoskins, Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Canadians are invited to learn more about this summit, watch the live webcast on November 18 and follow #OCO16 on social media to be part of this important conversation.
Although our message this week centres on the opioid crisis, we know that National Addictions Awareness Week recognizes all forms of addiction. During this time, Canadians are encouraged to learn about prevention, to talk about treatment and recovery and to bring forward solutions for change. Many addictions resources are available online and through provincial or territorial helplines. If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction, remember that there are numerous organizations in Canada working around the clock to help those in need.
The Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health
The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
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