Governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island increase access to treatment options for people with substance use disorders

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 disorders will continue to be at risk for overdose. 

Today, on behalf of the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and the Honourable Jordan Brown, Minister of Education, Early Learning and Culture and Minister of Justice and Public Safety, Government of Prince Edward Island announced a bilateral agreement under the Government of Canada’s Emergency Treatment Fund. 

The agreement provides nearly $1.1 million—$518,506 in funding from the Government of Canada and $566,000 from the Government of Prince Edward Island—to improve access to and build on existing treatment services for people with substance use disorders. This includes: 

• increasing client support networks by training people with lived and living experience to support peers who are receiving treatment for problematic opioid-related substance use; 
• enhancing PEI’s Telehealth capacity by implementing a secure video connection between community outreach nurses and physicians located in central locations (e.g., Charlottetown and Summerside); and
• enhancing the province’s opioid replacement therapy program by increasing client access and focusing on a holistic and client-centred approach to treatment, including improved access to buprenorphine/naloxone. 

These new initiatives will build upon the significant work already underway as part of the Prince Edward Island Action Plan to Prevent and Mitigate Opioid Overdoses and Deaths.

The Government of Canada and its partners recognize that providing people dealing with problematic substance use with access to treatment in their own communities ultimately helps people who use drugs live healthier lives.

Quotes

“Opioid-related overdoses continue to devastate communities across Canada. This bilateral agreement will increase access to essential treatment services for people with problematic substance use in Prince Edward Island. We must continue to work in a comprehensive and collaborative way to help Canadians access the treatments and supports they want and need.”

The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, on behalf of the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health

 “As a province, we have been taking action in the fight against opioid misuse. This new agreement will help us reduce the barriers for accessing opioid replacement therapy.  We continue to work with partners to enhance surveillance of opioid use, create more options for harm reduction and response, and increase access to treatment options and supports for all Islanders.”

The Honourable Jordan Brown

Minister of Education, Early Learning and Culture and Minister of Justice and Public Safety, Government of Prince Edward Island

Related Products

Backgrounder

• Bilateral Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of Prince Edward Island under the Emergency Treatment Fund
• Emergency Treatment Fund 

Associated Links

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

Contacts:

Thierry Bélair

Office of Ginette Petitpas Taylor

Minister of Health

613-957-0200

Amanda Hamel

Communications, Health PEI

Government of Prince Edward Island 

902-314-2721  

Public Inquiries:

613-957-2991

1-866 225-0709  

Media Relations

Health Canada 

613-957-2983

hc.media.sc@canada.ca