Backgrounder

Date: November 6, 2007

Release: Immediate

NDPAC Backgrounder

A National Drug Prevention Advisory Committee (NDPAC) has been established to advise the Minister of Health. The NDPAC is a senior-level advisory committee co-chaired by Health Canada and the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA). The committee will provide guidance on the development, implementation and evaluation of a national youth drug prevention mass media campaign led by Health Canada.

Mandate

The mandate of the NDPAC is to provide guidance, feedback and advice to support the Government of Canada’s national youth drug prevention mass media campaign. As with other Health Canada advisory committees, the NDPAC has no decision-making authority. Its role is limited to that of advising Health Canada, with the Minister and Deputy Minister sharing the ultimate authority and accountability for any decision prompted by the activities of the Advisory committee.

Membership

Participation in the NDPAC is on a voluntary basis (through invitation from the Minister of Health), and the committee will be composed of senior level professionals with a vested interest in the national prevention mass media campaign including:

Departments and Agencies

• Health Canada (as Co-chair)
• Department of Justice Canada
• Public Safety Canada
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Public Health Agency of Canada
• Minister of Health’s Director of Communications (observer status)
• Privy Council Office - Chair of the Government Advertising Committee (observer status)

Non-Governmental Organizations

• Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (as Co-chair)
• Canadian Public Health Association
• Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police
• Centre of Excellence for Youth Engagement
• Canadian Association for School Health
• NECHI Training, Research and Health Promotions Institute
• Media Awareness Network
• Canadian Association of Family Resource Programs
• Canadian Police Association
• Canadian Executive Council on Addictions
• Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission
• Drug Prevention Network of Canada (past President)