IN TOTAL – Approximately $15.3 million will fund 15 projects through the Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP), the Harm Reduction Fund and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Approximately $15.3 million will fund 15 projects through the Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP), the Harm Reduction Fund and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

SUAP – $9.6 million for seven projects

While the seven projects are based in British Colombia, they will produce results that can be applied across the country. These projects will focus on building and sharing knowledge on effective treatments for opioid use disorder, including in rural and remote areas in B.C. and Yukon, and among women and formerly incarcerated men.

St. Paul’s Foundation of Vancouver

St. Paul’s Foundation of Vancouver will receive more than $930,000 over four years to develop a B.C.-Yukon opioid agonist treatment provider network. St. Paul’s will work with the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, in collaboration with stakeholders in B.C. and Yukon, to establish a network that addresses the need for evidence-based treatment for substance use disorder, with particular focus on rural and remote providers.

Simon Fraser University

Simon Fraser University will receive more than $2.3 million over three years to create workshops to build knowledge among policy makers and to expand understanding of issues related to substance use in communities.

University of British Columbia (three projects):

UBC will receive more than $1.2 million over three years to create an online platform to help people who use opioids and their support networks in identifying risk factors for overdoses and managing high-risk behaviours.

The Institute of Mental Health of the Faculty of Medicine at UBC will receive more than $1.5 million over five years to study two new recovery programs in Canada that offer treatment to individuals who have severe substance use issues or who have substance use issues while also struggling with mental health disorders.

UBC’s Collaborating Centre for Prison Health and Education will receive $558,180 over four years to develop a comprehensive trauma kit that supports the integration of trauma-informed practices into correctional institutions and community-based organizations, providing services to currently and formerly incarcerated men.

The Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation

The Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation will receive more than $2.6 million over 2.5 years to support the Dr. Peter Centre to implement and evaluate an intravenous opioid agonist therapy program in an integrated health setting for people who use injection drugs. Integrated health services provide numerous medical and psychosocial services, offering options for those transitioning to other treatments for opioid use disorder.

The Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health (CEWH)

The CEWH will receive approximately $225,000 over 1.5 years to gather and synthesize evidence on stigma experienced by women who use opioids during their interactions with child welfare organizations. CEWH will also use the funding to create—with support from collaborating partners—a multi-component toolkit of resources to guide system planners and practitioners in both child welfare and substance use systems across Canada.

Harm Reduction Fund – $1.3 million for four projects

The four initiatives will help control infectious diseases that can be associated with drug use, while also linking people to treatment and support services.

Atira Women’s Resource Society

The Women’s Resource Society will receive approximately $250,000 to create a supervised inhalation service at a drop-in centre that focuses on women who use drugs in Surrey.

Peers Victoria Resource Society

The Peers Victoria Society will receive more than $264,000 to train and hire a peer health service coordinator to help people who use drugs and are involved in sex work or the sex trade in Esquimalt, Victoria, Langford and Saanich.

AIDS Vancouver Island Health and Community Services Society

The AIDS Vancouver Island Health and Community Services Society will receive approximately $580,364 for Indigenous-led peer outreach teams, established in collaboration with Kwakaitl District Council. These teams will provide culturally appropriate prevention, education and resources to peers, and training to health and social service providers to reduce stigma toward people who use drugs in Campbell River. Peer outreach teams will also provide prevention, education and resources to peers in Courtney and Comox Valley, and training to health and social service providers to reduce stigma toward people who use drugs.

Lower Mainland Purpose Society for Youth and Families

The Lower Mainland Purpose Society for Youth and Families will receive approximately $239,000 for a peer coordinator to train additional peer outreach workers to enhance the reach and scope of their outreach program in the Fraser North area.

CIHR – $4.4 million for four projects

To help ensure treatments and actions to reduce harms are evidence-based and effective, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research is providing approximately $4.4 million for four research projects focused on opioids.

University of British Columbia (two projects)

UBC will receive approximately $145,000 to conduct an analysis of different treatment options that can be used to help people who use illegal opioids.

UBC will receive approximately $1.1 million for a three-year project to study a program of injectable opioid therapy on an expanded range of people seeking treatment for opioid use disorder.

BC Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU)

BCCSU will receive approximately $650,632 to examine how housing environments can impact substance-use interventions among people who use drugs in the context of a housing crisis.

First Nations Health Authority in West Vancouver

The First Nations Health Authority in West Vancouver will receive approximately $2.5 million for a five-year project (2018-2023) to improve harm reduction initiatives and better support Indigenous people who use opioids.