Country Correspondents: Roosa Tikkanen, Danielle Rodin
British Columbia has signed a bilateral agreement with the Canadian government that will channel more than CAD 71 million (USD 51 million) toward substance use disorder treatments. The 2018 federal budget allocated CAD 150 million (USD 107 million) as an Emergency Treatment Fund, which provides matching funds to provinces as part of efforts to address the opioid crisis. The province will use the funds to expand access to recovery services, including youth programs, injectable opioid agonist drugs, inpatient treatment beds, and supportive recovery options. In 2017, one of eight Canadians reported having used opioid pain relievers in the past year; of this number, 3 percent reported “problematic” use.
- The governments of Canada and British Columbia are providing more than $71.7 million in innovative treatment options for people with substance use disorders
- Health Canada Releases Latest Federal Data on Tobacco, Alcohol and Drug Use - Results point to the need for continued work to help Canadians lead healthier lives
