Ensure communities can introduce effective opioid treatments and programs.

What success looks like

Canadians have access to community-based opioid treatments and programs that are effective in reducing harm.

Government's narrative on progress

Treatment is the key to moving people from using drugs to recovery. Budget 2018 includes measures to provide one-time emergency funding of $150 million for provinces and territories for multi-year projects that improve access to evidence-based treatments. Bilateral agreements for the emergency funding have been signed with all provinces and territories. In addition, the federal government has used its regulatory powers to make naloxone more widely available and to expedite approval of the nasal spray version. Further, the government published regulations allowing the import of drugs for opioid use disorder treatments not yet approved in Canada. On March 26, 2018, the Minister of Health announced the removal of barriers to accessing diacetylmorphine (prescription-grade heroin) and methadone for the treatment of opioid use disorder. The regulatory amendments were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, on March 21, 2018. Health Canada also authorized, in April and November, two new drug products for the treatment of opioid use disorder. On September 5, 2018, Health Canada issued two section 56 exemptions to authorize nurses with the authority to possess, sell, provide, administer, transport, send and deliver controlled substances while providing primary health care services at community health facilities under certain conditions. These exemptions removed the barriers to establishing nurse-led community-based treatment models.

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.