Harper Government Supports Programming to Address First Nations Prescription Drug Abuse in Ontario

News Release: Harper Government Working With Ontario First Nations to Address Prescription Drug Abuse

The Harper Government is investing $1.5 million in the areas of service provision and continuum of care; integration of services and enhanced collaboration among service providers; and capacity building, training and education. Health Canada will also contribute an additional $2 million to support community-based programming in First Nations communities in Ontario in 2012-13.

This funding is in addition to the approximately $50 million annually which is provided to First Nations communities in Ontario to support mental health and addictions programming under various Health Canada programs, including: Brighter Futures; Building Healthy Communities; the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program; the National Youth Solvent Abuse Program; and, the National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy.

In 2011-12, Health Canada committed an additional $1.1 million to directly support First Nations community-based prescription drug abuse programming in Ontario.

Total investments in mental health and addictions in Ontario

Year	Project Description	Amount
2011-2012	Mental health and addictions funding through Brighter Futures, Building Healthy Communities, the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program, the National Youth Solvent Abuse Program, the National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy and the Indian Residential Schools - Resolution Health Support Program. *Does not include Non-Insured Health Benefits Program.	$50 million
2011-2012	Special funding for 16 community proposals to respond to prescription drug abuse in Ontario. The majority of these projects are in Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Territory.	$1.1 million
2012-2013	Mental health and addictions funding through Brighter Futures, Building Healthy Communities, the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program, the National Youth Solvent Abuse Program, the National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy, and the Indian Residential Schools - Resolution Health Support Program.. *Does not include Non-Insured Health Benefits Program.	$50 million
2012-2013	Funding to support initiatives to reduce prescription drug abuse, and sustain long term mental health and addictions services, as outlined in the Trilateral First Nations Health Senior Official Committee (TFNHSOC) workplan.	$1.5 million
2012-2013	Special funding to support First Nations community-based projects to respond to prescription drug abuse in Ontario.	$2 million