Improving health outcomes for people at risk of substance use harms and overdose

March 16, 2022 | Halifax, Nova Scotia | Health Canada

The opioid overdose crisis is a serious public health crisis that has taken a tragic toll on families, friends and communities across the country. The recent data on opioid overdose deaths confirms the negative effect COVID-19 has had on the overdose crisis, with many jurisdictions reporting record high rates of harms, including deaths, throughout 2020, 2021 and now into 2022. In the first half of 2021, 23 people died of opioid overdose in Nova Scotia. 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, announced federal funding through Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP) for a project led by the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre in Halifax. This project will help to improve health outcomes for people who are at risk of experiencing substance-related harms and overdose by scaling up prevention and harm reduction outreach efforts across Nova Scotia, including in Indigenous communities, as well as by expanding peer and professional health networks throughout the Atlantic region.

Today’s announcement includes nearly $250,000 to support the expansion of Direction 180’s Substance Use Network of the Atlantic Region (SUNAR), a peer-led, regional network of people with lived or living experience of substance use across Atlantic Canada that seeks to enhance and save lives. This funding will help increase the reach of their existing services and programs.

The federal government will continue to work with all orders of government, partners, Indigenous communities, stakeholders, people with lived and living experience of addiction, and organizations in communities in Atlantic Canada and across the country to end this national public health crisis and ensure people have access to the lifesaving substance use services they need.