The governments of Canada and Yukon work together to increase access to treatment options for people with substance use disorders

OTTAWA, Dec. 17, 2018 /CNW/ - The opioid crisis is devastating individuals, families and communities across the country. Without increased access to effective, evidence-based treatment options, people with substance use disorder will continue to be at risk for overdose.

Today, on behalf of the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, Member of Parliament, the Honourable Larry Bagnell and the Honourable Pauline Frost, Yukon's Minister of Health and Social Services, announced a bilateral agreement under the Government of Canada's Emergency Treatment Fund.

The agreement provides more than $945,000—$500,000 from the Government of Canada and $445,104 from Yukon Territory—to increase access to quality treatment services for people with substance use disorder.

This funding will be used to improve, integrate and increase services provided by Yukon's Opioid Treatment Service (OTS). This includes:

• enhancing access to wrap-around services, such as social work, psychiatry and mental health services;
• integrating long-term prescribing of methadone as an alternative to opioids, as part of a comprehensive treatment service (methadone maintenance treatment); and
• adding a full-time mental health nurse to the OTS team and enhancing opioid agonist program services.

The governments of Canada and Yukon will continue to work together to increase treatment services for people who are seeking help for substance use disorders.

Quotes

"Opioid-related overdoses continue to have a devastating impact in communities across Canada, including in Yukon. This bilateral agreement will facilitate and increase access to essential treatment services in the territory to help people with substance use disorder. We must continue to work in a comprehensive and collaborative way to help Canadians access treatment and supports."

The Honourable Larry Bagnell
Member of Parliament

"Yukon has been deeply affected by the opioid crisis and it continues to impact communities across the territory. This funding will increase and improve the services and treatment options available to those with substance use disorders in Yukon. Enhancing our support systems and integrating more long-term strategies around opioid use will help to reduce the harmful impacts on communities in our territory."

The Honourable Pauline Frost
Minister of Health and Social Services, Yukon

Related Products
Backgrounder: Bilateral Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of Yukon under the Emergency Treatment Fund 
Emergency Treatment Fund

Associated Links

Infographic: Government of Canada – Federal Actions on Opioids 
National report: Apparent opioid-related deaths in Canada 

SOURCE Health Canada

Thierry Bélair, Office of Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, 613-957-0200; Julie Ménard, Communications, Health and Social Services Government of Yukon, 867-667-8478; Media Relations, Health Canada, 613-957-2983, [email protected]; Public Inquiries: 613-957-2991, 1-866 225-0709