The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia work together to increase access to treatment options for people with substance use disorder

March 14, 2019 - Ottawa, ON - Government of Canada

The opioid crisis is devastating individuals, families and communities across the country. Tragically, more than 9,000 people have lost their lives to opioid-related overdoses from January 2016 to June 2018 in Canada. Without increased access to effective, evidence-based treatment options, people with substance use disorder will continue to be at risk for overdose.

Today, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Randy Delorey, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Health and Wellness, announced a bilateral agreement under the Government of Canada’s Emergency Treatment Fund.

This bilateral agreement—which will see more than $6 million ($3,160,108 from the Government of Canada and $2,910,108 from the Government of Nova Scotia) invested to enhance access to treatment for opioid use disorder—will:

• support primary care providers in consulting with specialists in the treatment of opioid use disorder via a telephone service;
• provide education, tools and training resources on opioid use disorder to support physicians and primary care teams throughout the province, including in remote locations;
• provide training and education on opioid use disorder to emergency room staff across the province to facilitate rapid referral for treatment services; and
• enhance existing treatment approaches, including specialized treatment programs for people with opioid use disorder.