Opioid Addiction and Overdose – Launch of Two Complementary Initiatives and Announcement of Important Investments

Opioid Addiction and Overdose

QUEBEC, July 25, 2018 – To intensify efforts to act in a coherent and concerted manner, the Government of Quebec is launching the Plan d’action interministériel en dépendance 2018-2028 : Prévenir, réduire et traiter les conséquences associées à la consommation de substances psychoactives, à la pratique de jeux de hasard et d’argent et à l’utilisation d’Internet (PAID) (2018-2028 interministerial addiction action plan: prevent, reduce and treat the consequences associated with taking  psychoactive substances, gambling, and Internet use) as well as the Stratégie nationale 2018‑2020 pour prévenir les surdoses (2018-2020 National Strategy to prevent and respond to opioid overdoses).

Today, the Minister for Rehabilitation, Youth Protection, Public Health and Healthy Living, Ms. Lucie Charlebois, and the Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Gaétan Barrette, unveiled the content of these two complementary initiatives. The government of Quebec has earmarked $35M for the combined deployment of the PAID program and the opioid specific strategy.

Quotes:

With the federal government’s legalization of cannabis and the emergence of opioid overdoses in Canada, and more generally in North America, launching PAID and the Stratégie nationale 2018‑2020 pour prévenir les surdoses confirms our determination to provide Quebec with mobilizing measures to effectively respond to the needs of people with multiple and sometimes complex profiles. Our action plan is based on the most recent research, as well as the most efficient and promising actions. They are supported by the health and social services network’s experience, as well as on the entire network of partners so that they respond better to people’s needs within a perspective of individual and community global health.

– Lucie Charlebois, Minister for Rehabilitation, Youth Protection, Public Health and Healthy Living.

Every life matters, so it is important to intensify the efforts that have already begun over the course of the past few years. With the Stratégie nationale 2018‑2020 pour prévenir les surdoses, we want to act for the most vulnerable people in society, in particular by offering more support to community organizations, by expanding the supply of Naloxone and by consolidating treatment of opioid-related addictions.

– Gaétan Barrette, Minister of Health and Social Services.

The close collaboration among the various ministries is the key to facing the threats posed by opioid overdoses in our society. Together, we must take concerted action, pooling our strengths to ensure the success of the specific strategy for opioid overdoses and avoid tragic deaths.

– Martin Coiteux, Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Land Occupation, Minister of Public Security and Minister responsible for the Montreal region.

Quick Facts:

Plan d’action interministériel en dépendance 2018-2028 (2018-2028 Interministerial Addiction Action Plan) (PAID)

PAID represents major leverage to better support those who take psychoactive substances, gamblers, Internet users and those around them. By focusing on developing people’s capacities, the services and care offered, expanding knowledge as well as the development of clinical skills, PAID offers concrete means to effectively reach people in their environment, facilitate their progression through treatment and services and offer them the services they need, when they need them.

The implementation of the action plan must give rise to the establishment of adapted, flexible and varied solution to optimally respond to the needs of experiencing populations at the most risk of experiencing adverse effects or who present special needs in terms of services. These most vulnerable populations are identified in the action plan, for example, pregnant women, mothers and fathers of young children, youth and young adults.

The Stratégie nationale 2018‑2020 pour prévenir les surdoses (2018-2020 national strategy to prevent and respond to opioid overdoses)

The strategy for opioid overdose is consistent with the PAID. Even if Quebec has been relatively spared thus far as compared to other Canadian provinces, in 2016 there were 208 deaths related to opioid overdose. The situation is sufficiently worrying to cause us to mobilize and prepare an adequate response to avoid further casualties. Of the $35M granted by the government of Quebec to prevent, reduce and treat the consequences associated with taking psychoactive substances, an annual amount of $15M over three years will be dedicated to implementing the activities in the strategy to prevent and respond to opioid overdoses, in addition to the $8M from the PAID for treating opioid addiction.

Related Links:

• To consult the Plan d’action interministériel en dépendance 2018-2028 (2018-2028 Interministerial Addiction Action Plan) (PAID) as well as the The Stratégie nationale 2018‑2020 pour prévenir les surdoses (2018-2020 national strategy to prevent and respond to opioid overdoses), visit www.msss.gouv.qc.ca/presse. (French Only)