July 25, 2022 | Guelph, Ontario | Health Canada
Canada's overdose crisis continues to have a tragic toll on individuals, families and communities across the country. This crisis has only worsened over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic due to a variety of factors including the increasingly toxic drug supply, increased feelings of isolation, stress and anxiety, and changes in the availability of services for people who use substances. The latest data on substance use related harms show that 7,560 people died due to opioid overdose-related deaths across Canada in 2021. The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that all Canadians have access to the life-saving substance use services and supports they need.
Today, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health along with Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament for Guelph, announced over $2.9 million in funding for five innovative community-led projects across the Guelph region in Ontario. This funding will allow for increased safer supply program capacity, as well as improved outreach services for people who use substances. It will also help to increase access to multiple supports for youth in Guelph region communities, and support training and certification for peer support workers.
Today's funding will provide support to those disproportionately affected by substance use issues or who face barriers accessing services, including youth, young and middle-aged men, Indigenous Peoples, people experiencing chronic pain, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, and people at increased risk of substance-related overdoses.
This investment is part of Budget 2021's commitment of $116 million for the Substance Use and Addictions Program to support a range of innovative approaches to prevention, harm reduction, and treatment.
The Government of Canada is committed to a comprehensive public health approach to the overdose crisis, which includes understanding that substance use and substance-related harms are often interrelated with other factors, including physical and mental health. We will continue to work with all levels of government, partners, Indigenous communities, stakeholders, people with lived and living experience of addiction, and organizations in communities across the country to put an end to this national public health crisis.
