Increasing Awareness and Understanding of Problematic Substance Use Reducing Alcohol-Related Harms Addressing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Preventing the Problematic Use of Pharmaceuticals Addressing Enforcement Issues Sustaining Workforce Development Implementing a National Research Agenda and Facilitating Knowledge Transfer Improving the quality, accessibility and range of options to treat harmful substance use including substance use disorders (Treatment) Modernizing Legislative, Regulatory and Policy Frameworks Focusing on Children and Youth Reaching Out to Canada’s North Supporting First Nations, Inuit and Métis People in Addressing Their Needs Responding to Offender-Related Issues Raising Public Awareness About Addictions: Creating Momentum for Action National Alcohol Policy Thematic Workshop National Thematic Workshop on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Preventing the Harmful Use of Psychotropic Pharmaceuticals National Thematic Workshop on Enforcement Police and Policing Partners: Supply Management and Demand Reduction Workforce Development Thematic Workshop National Thematic Workshop on Research National Thematic Workshop on Improving the Quality, Accessibility, and Range of Options to Treat Harmful Substance Use Including Substance Use Disorders (Treatment) National Thematic Workshop on Corrections National Symposium on Language

Reaching Out to Canada's North

Northern communities face many unique challenges. Issues of culture, language, social and geographic isolation, poverty, housing and education contribute to an increasing risk for problematic substance use in these communities. Infrastructure disparities and hard to reach areas add to the complexity of addressing problematic substance use in Canada's territorial and northern communities. Research has shown that the use and abuse of substances, particularly alcohol and solvents, is more common in northern and remote communities where social and economic infrastructure may not be as strong or as developed. The use of alcohol is linked with higher rates of suicide, violence and poor performance in schools.  

The complex and often interwoven conditions faced by Canada's territorial and northern communities set the stage for an increased vulnerability to problematic substance use. Addressing the underlying issues of this serious problem and providing access to appropriate prevention, health promotion, treatment and aftercare programs, using holistic approaches are needed. A concerted effort is required to support northern communities in developing an infrastructure that is culturally appropriate and based on an understanding of the nature, prevalence and causes of problematic substance use in these communities. 

Update 

Discussions are ongoing on how to approach this priority issue.  If your organization has an interest in exploring options to address Northern issues contact the Secretariat.