Backgrounder

Drug Treatment Funding Program

The Government of Canada, through its new Drug Treatment Funding Program (DTFP) under the National Anti-Drug Strategy, will provide $111 million in financial support over five years to provincial and territorial governments to support illicit drug treatment services for at-risk youth, and to assist in strengthening the quality of drug treatment services.

Health Canada estimates that on average young people first try drugs at the age of 15.  Research has also shown that the later a young person starts using drugs, the less likely it is that he or she will abuse substances later in life.  Therefore early intervention is critical to reducing the progression and severity of illicit drug use behaviours.  The DTFP will make available $45 million over five years for new and enhanced early intervention treatment services in communities or regions of the country where there is a high proportion of at-risk youth whose illicit drug treatment needs are not being met due to critical gaps in services.  Activities can include:  assessment and referral; brief interventions that incorporate cognitive behavioural approaches and motivational interviewing concepts; case management, family-focused interventions; outreach; and screening.  Early intervention treatment services can take place in office settings such as schools or community centres, through mobile services such as visiting treatment counsellors, or by having front-line workers go to the various locations where youth are experimenting with illicit drugs.

The DTFP will make available up to $66 million over five years to help provinces and territories make improvements to drug treatment systems by investing in activities that strengthen performance measurement and evaluation through, for example, the development of national indicators, as well as move best practice research into the day to day clinical practice of front-line workers.  Investment in these areas will ensure that much needed systems development work can be carried out to advance and enhance provincial/territorial program delivery so that Canadians can be assured of receiving the most efficient and effective care possible.

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