substance abuse and schools forum presented by

Health Santé Canada Canada

National Framework for Action To Reduce the Harms Associated with Alcohol and Other

Drugs and Substances in Canada

Substance Abuse and Schools Forum

Presented by

Carolyn Franklin, Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse

November 17th, 2005


Purpose

To inform you about progress on the National Framework for Action To Reduce the Harms Associated with Alcohol Other Drugs and Substances

To encourage you to support the Framework


Contents

BACKGROUND

FRAMEWORK AT A GLANCE

THE NATIONAL FRAMEWORK IN ACTION- A National Alcohol Strategy

PRIORITY: FOCUSING ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH


Background - Calls For Action Calls for federal leadership

Special Committee on Non-Medical Use of Drugs, (December 2002), Report of the Senate Committee on Illegal Drugs (September 2002), Office of Auditor General of Canada (2001)

Clear message Need for a national plan Greater federal leadership and coordination needed in

addressing substance use and abuse issues

Renewal of Canada’s Drug Strategy, May 2003 Included $16.4 million over 5 years for leadership and

related activities


Background - Answering The Call April 2004, Health Canada with CDS partners join with the Canadian

Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) to lead a consultative, multi-stakeholder process to gauge level of support for developing a National Framework for Action together

Envisioned a process where the development of a National Framework For Action would generate dialogue to Articulate a vision, principles and goals for national action Set out strategic priorities and directions that allow coherent

planning, delivery and evaluation of activities Define and clarify the roles, responsibilities and accountabilities

of the different jurisdictions and stakeholders Provide mechanisms to ensure coordination and facilitate

collaboration and partnerships between jurisdictions and sectors Create an environment within which funding can be leveraged


Considerations

Need for federal leadership, not ownership Need for a national plan, not an expansion of Canada’s

Drug Strategy Ensure the contribution of many federal partners Seek commitment from numerous provincial, territorial,

municipal, Aboriginal, and NGO stakeholders at various stages of readiness, levels of trust and with potentially very different philosophies

Get buy-in where there is no promise of new funding, only the potential to better leverage existing funds

Gauge the right pace - process – key to success


National Framework Circle of Partners


Development Phases

Phase 1 Gauging Commitment (May 2004 - June 2005)

Purpose To measure interest and begin identifying goals,

priorities for action, and guiding principles Cross Canada Consultations

Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Fredericton, Whitehorse, Vancouver, Iqaluit, Montreal, Ottawa (NGOs), Ottawa (Federal Partners)

Participants (450) Provincial officials in education, health, and Justice

ministries, NGOs, Aboriginal service providers and policing/enforcement representatives


Phase 2 Focusing On Priorities (November 2004 and ongoing)

Purpose To drill down on priority issues and identify strategic

directions Thematic Workshops

Alcohol policy, youth on youth issues, police and policing partners issues, Corrections, Addictions Workforce Development, FASD, Research, and Crack Cocaine and Hepatitis C Virus National Forum

Future – pharmaceuticals, language, public awareness, drug policy…


Phase 3 National Framework Development – Reaching Consensus

(January 2005 – September 2005)

Wide consultation on a draft Framework document Revised Framework validated at National Forum

(Montreal June, 2005) 100 key stakeholders from all sectors

General consensus reached

Vision

Goals

Priorities

Principles

All people in Canada live in a society free of the harms associated with alcohol and other drugs and

substances

Problematic Substance Use is a Health Issue

Problematic Substance Use Is Shaped by Social and

Other Factors

Action is Knowledge-Based,Evidenced-Informed and

Evaluated for Results

Responsibility, Ownership, and Accountability are Understood

and Agreed Upon by All

Those Most Affected AreMeaningfully Involved

Reducing the Harms Associated with Alcohol andOther Drugs and Substances Creates Healthier

Safer Communities

To Create Supportive Environments thatPromote Health and Resiliency of

Individuals, Families and Communitiesin Order to Prevent Problematic Use of Alcohol

and Other Drugs and Substances

To Reduce the Harms Associated with Alcohol and Other Drugs and Substances to Individuals,

Families, and CommunitiesAcross Canada

NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION TO REDUCE THE HARMSASSOCIATED WITH ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS AND SUBSTANCES

IN CANADA

Human Rights are Respected

Successful Responses to Reduce the HarmsAssociated with Alcohol and Other Drugs and Sub-stances Reflect the Full range of Health Promotion,

Prevention, Treatment, Enforcement, and HarmReduction Approaches

Strong Partnerships are the Foundation for Success

To Address Specific Issues:

• Increasing Awareness and Understanding of Problematic Substance Use

• Reducing Alcohol-Related Harms• Preventing Problematic Use of

Pharmaceuticals• Addressing Enforcement Issues• Addressing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum

Disorder (FASD)

To Build Supportive Infrastructure:• Sustaining Workforce Development• Improving Quality, Accessibility, and

Range of Options to Treat Harmful Substance Use Including Substance Use Disorders

• Implementing a National Research Agenda and Facilitating Knowledge Transfer

• Modernizing Legislation, Regulatory, and Policy Frameworks

To Address the Needs of Key Populations:

• Focusing on Children and Youth• Reaching Out to Canada’s North• Supporting First Nations, Inuit and Métis

Communities in Addressing Their Needs• Responding to Offender-Related Issues


Endorsement Process Phase 4 Endorsement/Approval-in-Principle

(Fall 2005 – Fall 2006)

All Stakeholders to seek endorsement from their respective ministers, boards or governing bodies

Endorsement defined: approval, acceptance, support –a commitment to move ahead, to take action

Complex multi-dimensional process involving NGOs Federal Departments – Health Canada, PHAC, Justice

and PSEPC Provinces, Territories and Municipalities– health,

enforcement, education Aboriginal Groups Private Sector


Endorsement Process Cont’d

Goal is to have endorsement phase significantly complete for FPT Ministers’ meeting next fall

Health Canada and CCSA continue to act as informal secretariat

to manage evolution of Framework and assist partners with endorsement process over the coming year

to develop future governance options


Phase 5: Developing National Strategies for Identified Priorities (On-Going)

Framework provides the umbrella under which strategies can be developed

Leaders already emerging to take on specific issues: Stigma and Public Awareness – Addictions Foundation of Manitoba Workforce Development – CCSA Alcohol – Health Canada, CCSA, AADAC FASD – Public Health Agency Pharmaceuticals - Health Canada Synthetic Dugs and Marihuana Grow Ops - PSEPC Research – Health Canada Language – Centre for Addictions Research of BC with Government of

BC

Strategy development involves key players and will recognize each role, including federal level


The National Framework in Action – Developing a National Alcohol Strategy

The Framework already providing significant impetus for action – findings of the 2004 Canadian Addiction Survey confirms need and Thematic Workshop held in November 2004

Jointly chaired by Health Canada, CCSA and the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission with 25 NGOs and experts

Five key Strategic Priorities identified: screenings, policies to reduce chronic disease, drinking context and targeted interventions, alcohol taxes, culture of moderation

Deliverable: A National Alcohol Strategy, including short, medium and long term recommendations within 6 months


Priority Area 3: Priorities to Address the Needs of Key Populations

Focusing on Children and Youth


Considerations

Reality of adolescent substance use & Investments

Focus on children and youth Messages: prevention and health promotion v. “glamour”;

factual, age-appropriate, accessible, meaningful Youth engagement Parental and family involvement Long-term, sustained prevention and health school

programs Availability of youth-specific treatment programs Implementation of public policies


National Framework for Action - Secretariat

ContactsCarolyn Franklin, CCSA

(613) 513-3579

[email protected]

Marjorie Ward, Health Canada

(613) 948-4264

[email protected]

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