Question Period Note: Harm Reduction

Harm reduction measures are one critical part of a comprehensive public health approach to substance use. Harm reduction aims to save lives, and reduce the negative health, social and economic impacts of substance use on individuals, their families and communities, without requiring abstinence. Harm reduction services also help people who use substances to make connections with health and social services, including treatment and recovery.

Our first priority is to save lives.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to prevent or reduce overdose deaths.
To truly help people who use substances, we must provide them with the full range of services and supports they need, when and where they need them.
Harm reduction measures such as supervised consumption sites, administration of naloxone and prescribed safer supply, are one component of our Government’s comprehensive public health strategy.
We are leveraging all the tools at our disposal to work towards an end to this national public health crisis, including harm reduction, prevention and treatment, and enforcement.
IF PRESSED ON HARM REDUCTION …
Canadians are dying every day because of the toxic illegal drug supply. Every one who uses these drugs is at risk and the majority of those who die are dying at home, alone.
Harm reduction measures provide a lifeline to people who use drugs.
Harm reduction measures can also connect people to care, supports and treatment.
That is why we need to urgently respond to this crisis with every viable tool at our disposal, including evidence-based harm reduction measures, to reduce harms and save lives.
IF PRESSED ON COMMUNITY SAFETY NEAR SCS
Health Canada takes reports of impacts on the community around SCS seriously.
While most evidence suggests that the presence of a SCS in a community does not result in an increase in crime, SCS must have policies and procedures in place to ensure the safety of staff, clients and minimize negative impacts on the surrounding community.
The oversight of the operations of SCS is a shared responsibility. All orders of government must work together to ensure access to these life-saving services in a manner which also respects the security of the surrounding community.
IF PRESSED ON NALOXONE
People who use drugs are experiencing higher risks related to an increasingly toxic illegal drug supply.
During an overdose, every minute counts. Naloxone is a fast-acting drug that temporarily reverses the effects of opioid overdoses.
That is why Health Canada has provided $26 million in funding under its Substance Use and Addictions Program for the distribution of naloxone kits and opioid overdose response training in the country.
Naloxone has successfully reversed thousands of opioid overdoses across Canada, and we will continue to work towards improving access to this life saving drug.
IF PRESSED ON DRUG CHECKING…
Drug checking technologies provide timely information on the content of illegal drugs. They are a critical part of the continuum of harm reduction measures that the federal government supports.
Drug checking gives people who use drugs critical information so that they can make informed decisions that may reduce their risk of overdose, such as using a supervised consumption site or discarding tainted drugs.
Drug checking programs also help to collect and assess information about what is circulating in the illegal drug markets.
IF PRESSED ON SAFER SUPPLY PROGRAMS…
Safer supply is a relatively new harm reduction practice to support people who use drugs, in response to the toxic illegal drug supply and overdose crisis.
Health Canada supports prescriber-led safer supply programs that use pharmaceutical-grade drugs as an alternative to the highly toxic and unpredictable illegal drug supply.
Safer supply is meant to reach people at risk of overdose whose current care options have not been effective. It can keep them alive, and potentially connect them to other health and social services.
Health Canada will continue to work with experts to build the evidence around this measure.
IF PRESSED ON EVIDENCE AROUND SAFER SUPPLY PROGRAMS…
Safer supply is an emerging practice, focused on saving lives.
Safer supply is being evaluated by experts across Canada. We are seeing some promising early outcomes, including reports of reductions in hospitalizations, overdoses, illegal drug use, and criminal activity.
We are also aware of some concerns, such as diversion, and are committed to taking action where necessary.
Health Canada will continue to evaluate all available and emerging evidence in regard to safer supply programs to understand the potential benefits and risks.
IF PRESSED ON REPORTS OF DIVERSION FROM SAFER SUPPLY PROGRAMS…
We are using every tool at our disposal to save lives, keep communities safe, and dismantle criminal drug trafficking and organizations.
Diversion of drugs from safer supply programs is illegal.
Individuals who are trafficking these substances, either in-person on online, are breaking the law and can be subject to action by law enforcement.
Health Canada supports law enforcement actions to address drug trafficking and support community safety. This involves working with both local law enforcement officials, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

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Harm reduction approaches include supervised consumption sites, safer supply, drug checking, and naloxone intervention. A large body of evidence shows that harm reduction is a critical part of a successful comprehensive public health approach to substance use.
Supervised consumption sites and related services effectively reduce the risk of fatal overdose and other harms among people who use drugs.
o Since 2017, the number of supervised consumption sites in Canada has grown from 2 to 39 currently offering services. They have been visited more than 4.3 million times, reversed almost 50,000 overdoses, and made over 271,000 referrals to health and social services.
o Health Canada has also authorized supportive services at some sites including drug checking and peer assistance.
Safer supply is a promising harm reduction practice that involves the use of prescription drugs as an alternative to highly toxic street drugs, with the goal of helping to reduce overdose deaths for those most at risk. Building the evidence base is critical.
o Health Canada has supported 31 safer supply pilot projects across Canada, representing total funding commitments of over $101 million. This includes supporting a range of projects in BC, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick, research, knowledge transfer and exchange projects and a National Safer Supply Community of Practice.
o The Government of Canada is also supporting efforts to study the outcomes and build the evidence base, including supporting a preliminary qualitative assessment of 10 safer supply projects conducted by an independent contractor; hosting a three-part Knowledge Exchange on Safer Supply with key stakeholders to discuss and share current evidence and best practices; and funding an arms-length evaluation of 11 safer supply pilot projects funded through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and carried out by the Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse.
Naloxone is a fast-acting drug used to temporarily reverse the effects of opioid overdoses and has successfully reversed thousands of opioid overdoses across Canada.
o Health Canada has provided $26 million in funding under its Substance Use and Addictions Program for the distribution of naloxone kits and opioid overdose response training in the country.