The information presented in this section is meant to provide an overview of key national issues and activities. Please help us to keep this section as comprehensive and up to date as possible by contacting us with your comments, revisions, updates and additions.
National organizations
Federal departments and agencies
Federal drug strategy
National partnerships
Substance use statistical highlights
Key guiding documents
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA)
The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) has a legislated mandate to provide national leadership and evidence-informed analysis and advice to mobilize collaborative efforts to reduce alcohol- and other drug-related harms. CCSA works collaboratively with governments, researchers, enforcement agencies, treatment professionals and the private sector to achieve a balanced and holistic approach to addictions that will lead to a healthier and safer Canadian public.
Canadian Executive Council on Addictions
The Canadian Executive Council on Addictions (CECA) is a national, non-governmental organization established in April, 2002, to influence public policy on substance use. CECA offers a forum in which to develop common positions on substance use issues in Canada; the ability to strengthen the capacity and knowledge of addictions executives at the federal, provincial/ territorial and municipal levels; an environment of collaboration to integrate diverse issues and improve addiction services across Canada; and a means of delivering proactive advice to all three orders of government.
Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy The Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy (CFDP) is a non-profit organization founded in 1993 by several of Canada's leading specialists in drug policy. The aims of the Foundation include acting as a forum for the exchange of views among those interested in reform of drug policies; serving as a vehicle for sharing those views and for discussing significant drug policy issues with government, the public, other organizations and the media; and, where necessary, recommending alternatives that will make Canada's drug laws and policies effective and humane.
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network promotes the human rights of people living with and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, in Canada and internationally, through research, legal and policy analysis, education, and community mobilization. Key areas of focus include drug policy and harm reduction, prisons, sex work and discrimination. A key focus of the organization is to ensure that drug-related laws, policies and law enforcement do not compromise the health and human rights of people who use drugs or increase their vulnerability to HIV infection.
Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine (CSAM)
The Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine is a national organization of medical professionals and other scientists interested in the field of substance-use disorders. CSAM is committed to fostering and promoting the roles of physicians in the prevention and treatment of alcohol and drug-related problems; improving the quality of medical practice in the drug and alcohol field; promoting professional and public awareness of the roles that physicians can play in the prevention and treatment of alcohol- and drug-related problems; fostering and promoting further development of programs for the prevention and treatment of problems of alcohol and drug use in physicians; and contributing to professional and public examination and discussion of important issues in the drug and alcohol field.
National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation (NNAPF)
The National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation (NNAPF) is responsible for developing an implementation plan to move forward key recommendations stemming from the 1996 National General Review of the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (NNADAP). Working in concert with regional committees, NNAPF oversees the implementation of the report's recommendations on a national basis.
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Various federal government departments and agencies are involved in efforts to reduce harms associated with substance use and abuse including
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National Anti-Drug Strategy (NADS)
In October, 2007, the Federal government announced the National Anti-Drug Strategy, a collaborative effort involving the Department of Justice, Public Safety Canada and Health Canada. This new strategy focuses on three priority areas: prevention, treatment, and enforcement. This new strategy places particular emphasis on additional actions to combat the illicit production and distribution of drugs, to address gaps in preventing illicit drug use, to create awareness of illicit drugs and their negative effects, particularly among youth, and to treat and rehabilitate those with drug dependencies.
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National Framework for Action to Reduce the Harms Associated with Alcohol and Other Drugs and Substances in Canada
The National Framework for Action to Reduce the Harms Associated with Alcohol and Other Drugs and Substances in Canada sets out a vision, principles, goals, and priorities for action to reduce the harms associated with alcohol and other drugs and substances in Canada. The Framework was developed through extensive consultation involving the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse; Health Canada; provincial and territorial education, health and justice officials; NGOs; Aboriginal groups; the private sector; and policing/enforcement representatives. The Framework continues to provide the umbrella for developing multi-partner strategies. The Framework outlines 13 priority areas, one of which is to sustain workforce development in the substance abuse field.
The Canadian Harm Reduction Network
The Canadian Harm Reduction Network is a virtual meeting place for individuals and organizations dedicated to reducing the social, health and economic harms associated with drugs and drug policies.
National Advisory Group on Workforce Development (NAGWD)
Made up of substance abuse professionals from a broad spectrum of jurisdictions and sectors, the National Advisory Group on Workforce Development (NAGWD) provides representation and leadership in the development, implementation and ongoing evaluation of a broad national strategy on workforce development.
National Alcohol Strategy Working Group
The goals of the National Alcohol Strategy Working Group are to identify policies that will reduce the level of alcohol-related harms while acknowledging the benefits of alcohol to society; to develop recommendations of national scope, and outline mechanisms for coordination and collaboration within and across sectors; and to assist in the development of a comprehensive and coordinated National Alcohol Strategy.
National Coordinated Student Drug Use Survey Project
The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) was given the mandate under Canada’s renewed Drug Strategy (2003) to work with jurisdictions to facilitate the development and implementation of student drug use surveys in provinces/territories where they are currently not conducted, and to work with an expert group to determine the feasibility of reaching an agreement on a standardized methodology and to select indicators to be included as a minimum standard in province/territory-specific student surveys. For more information contact Heather Clark at 613-235-4048.
National Health, Education and Enforcement in Partnership (HEP) Program
The Health, Education and Enforcement in Partnership (HEP) network supports the development and implementation of the National Framework for Action to Reduce the Harms Associated with Alcohol and Other Drugs and Substances in Canada by providing a platform where national, provincial/territorial and municipal substance use and abuse stakeholders can share information with each other and with other provinces and national stakeholders.
National Treatment Strategy Working Group (NTSWG)
The mandate of the National Treatment Strategy Working Group is to develop a report with national recommendations for action to optimize health service responses to substance use problems in Canada, focusing on five priority areas:
- articulating the core continuum of treatment services and supports for substance use and addictions;
- implementing/sharing best practices across the specialized treatment system as well as the broader health system;
- identifying facilitators and barriers, and knowledge exchange activities for decision makers and policy shapers;
- developing treatment indicators and performance monitoring; and
- focusing on populations, such as Aboriginal peoples, youth and other vulnerable populations.
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The Costs of Substance Abuse in Canada
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), April 2006
2004 Canadian Addiction Survey (CAS)
CAS Report Highlights, 2004 [PDF]
CAS Detailed Report, 2005 [PDF]
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA)
Canadian Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (CCENDU) National Data
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) website
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Competencies for Canada’s Substance Abuse Workforce [PDFs]
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), January 2010
Substance Abuse in Canada: Youth in Focus [PDF]
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), September 2007
Reducing Alcohol-Related Harm in Canada: Toward a Culture of Moderation (Recommendations for a National Alcohol Strategy—April 2007) [PDF]
National Alcohol Strategy Working Group, April 2007
Abuse and Diversion of Controlled Substances: A Guide for Health Professionals [PDF]
Health Canada, 2006
Optimizing Canada's Addiction Treatment Workforce: Results of a National Survey of Service Providers [PDF]
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), 2005
Substance Abuse in Canada: Current Challenges and Choices [PDF]
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), 2005