National Addictions Awareness Week

November 26 to December 2, 2018

National Addictions Awareness Week is particularly poignant this year as we continue to see an unprecedented number of opioid-related overdoses in Canada. Between January 2016 and March 2018, more than 8,000 Canadians lost their lives as a result of apparent opioid-related overdoses. This national public health crisis continues to devastate individuals, families and communities across the country.

This year’s theme, “All Walks of Life,” emphasizes that problematic substance use can affect anyone—your loved one, your friend, your co-worker, or you. I have seen this first hand when meeting with people who use, or have used, drugs and when speaking with families, front-line workers and health professionals impacted by the crisis. While each story is unique, stigma, judgement, negative labels and perceptions towards people who use drugs are barriers preventing people from receiving health and social services, and this diminishes their quality of life.

We can all help to end stigma. We can learn about the challenges of substance use, use words that express care and concern rather than judgement, and remember that substance use disorders are a medical condition deserving of treatment like any other health issue.

That’s why I have asked Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, to work with her health professional colleagues to address the issue of stigma within the health care system.

More needs to be done to reverse the trend of this deadly crisis. The Government of Canada has taken a comprehensive, collaborative and compassionate approach to problematic substance use in Canada. This includes increasing access to evidence-based treatment, and supporting harm reduction measures, including access to naloxone and supervised consumption sites. We have also committed $13 million through Budget 2018 to support a public education campaign to help change perceptions related to people who use drugs.

So please join me this week in talking openly and compassionately about substance use. Together, we can change lives.

The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Health