The overdose crisis is one of the most serious public health crises our country has ever faced. It is driven by a dangerous illegal drug supply that is unpredictable and increasingly toxic. Too many Canadians have lost their lives to this public health crisis. Canada's approach is focused on providing access to a full continuum of health care services and leveraging every tool at our disposal to save lives, connect people to care, and keep communities safe.
Today, Seamus O'Regan, Member of Parliament for St. John's South on behalf of the Honourable Ya'ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced more than $2.4 million in federal funding for two organizations in St. John's that are working to connect people to care.
First Light St. John's Friendship Centre is receiving more than $946,000 to conduct research on the extent of Indigenous incarceration in Newfoundland and Labrador and the prevalence of substance use and addictions among Indigenous individuals who have been incarcerated to help inform the policy process. First Light will then co-develop solutions to address barriers to reintegration and treatment with partners and with Indigenous people with experiences of incarceration, substance use and addictions.
Thrive CYN St. John's is receiving more than $1.5 million for their project "Collaboration for Change & Capacity". This project emphasizes a collaborative effort among community partners to increase capacity for delivering harm reduction and recovery services through the employment of people with lived and living experience.
The Government of Canada is committed to supporting community partners and organizations working to save lives. This project is funded through the Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP). We will continue to work will all partners to get people the support they need.
