Federal approach on Canada's opioid crisis

Public Health Emergency Response

Enabling a coordinated pan-Canadian response to the opioid crisis

• Data, surveillance and research
• Public communications
• P/T and stakeholder engagement
• Surge capacity, mobilization and support

Health Ministers and key stakeholders have publicly committed to working within their respective areas of responsibility in a coordinated and comprehensive response to address problematic opioid use. The commitments fall within the pillars of prevention, treatment, harm reduction and enforcement, supported by strong evidence.

Prevention

Preventing problematic opioid use

• Implement the Health Portfolio's Problematic Prescription Drug Use Strategy
• Improve prescribing practices
• Better inform Canadians about the risks of opioids

Treatment

Supporting innovative approaches to treatments

• Better access for rural and remote First Nations communities
• Improve access to medication-assisted treatments for opioid use disorder
• Improve treatment options for pain management
• Share knowledge on treatments for opioid use disorder
• Increase cooperation between the criminal justice system and social services sector (like Drug Treatment Courts)

Harm reduction

Supporting a range of tools and measures for individuals and communities

• Support the establishment of supervised consumption sites
• Facilitate access to naloxone
• Ensure timely laboratory drug analysis information is shared between partners
• Support legislation to protect individuals who seek emergency assistance for overdose
• Reduce public health consequences of problematic substance use

Enforcement

Addressing illegal drug production, supply and distribution

• Continue enforcement on the importation, exportation and trafficking of illegal opioids
• Pursue legislative, regulatory, policy and programmatic changes to better control substances and equipment
• Collect, assess and share information with law enforcement agencies domestically and internationally
• Support education and training for law enforcement

An approach supported by strong evidence

Better identifying trends, targeting interventions, monitoring impacts and supporting evidence-based decisions

• Facilitate timely and comparable data collection and methodologies
• Consult experts and support research and knowledge sharing