Health Canada increases project's funding to include opioids in developing treatment approaches for problematic substance use

VANCOUVER, Oct. 21, 2017 /CNW/ - For many Canadians, experiencing trauma has a major impact on their lives and plays a role in their problematic substance use. Sex and gender are also important factors in understanding and treating individuals for problematic substance use.

Today, Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor announced additional project funding to embed gender and trauma considerations into opioids-related practices and policy.

Under the Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP), Health Canada funded the Centre of Excellence for Women's Health (CEWH) in British Columbia for the Trauma- and Gender-Informed Approaches in Substance Use Practices and Policy project. The additional investment brings the total project funding to $842,351. The CEWH is collaborating with the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), select provincial and territorial governments and non-governmental organizations to develop resources for problematic substance use that take into account trauma and gender.

The CEWH's project is strengthening health care providers' ability to recognize the role of trauma and gender in problematic substance use, and to adjust treatment services to better address an individual's needs. The resources developed as part of the project will apply to all provinces and territories, and once finalized they will be available on the CCSA's website.

The Government of Canada remains committed to supporting collaborative approaches to help address problematic substance use in communities across the country.

Quote

"There are many factors that contribute to problematic substance use, but research has shown that trauma is a common thread in many people's stories. Integrating trauma- and gender-informed principles into practices and policy will help address the root causes of problematic substance use."

Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Health

Quick Facts

• SUAP provides $26.3 million annually to innovative programs and initiatives that aim to prevent, treat, and reduce any harm from problematic substance use.
• SUAP launched the latest call for proposals in June 2017.
• Key project activities will include a roundtable, knowledge exchange, tool and guideline development, presentations, and piloting of developed approaches.

Associated Links
The Substance Use and Addictions Program
The Trauma- and Gender-Informed Approaches in Substance Use Practice and Policy project

SOURCE Health Canada

For further information: Yves-Alexandre Comeau, Office of Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, 613-957-0200; Media Relations, Health Canada, 613-957-2983; Public Inquiries: 613-957-2991, 1-866 225-0709