Health and Community
Services
June 18, 2008
Province Receives
Award of Distinction for OxyContin Task Force
The Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador has received an award of distinction from the
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) in recognition of the
province's comprehensive response to the rise in OxyContin abuse through
the creation of its OxyContin Task Force in December 2003.
�We are honoured by
this award which recognizes our government�s commitment to taking action
against substance abuse,� said the Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of
Health and Community Services. �The establishment of the OxyContin Task
Force was one of the first significant initiatives we implemented as a
government and it has produced substantial improvements over the last
four years in addictions services and our collaborative approach to
addictions prevention and treatment.�
The OxyContin Task
Force set out a comprehensive strategy for the management of OxyContin
and other related narcotics abuse by bringing together the Departments
of Justice, Education, and Health and Community Services with
collaborative response teams involving police, social services and
health care workers. The task force created a new community-based model
for substance abuse prevention, intervention, treatment and harm
reduction that can be applied to other jurisdictions confronting similar
drug issues.
�The government
demonstrated decisive and concrete leadership while at the same time
setting a new 'best practice' standard that others in the substance
abuse field can employ to quickly assess and take action on emerging
drug issues,� said David Nicholson Board Acting Chair, CCSA.
The final task force
report offered 50 recommendations, the majority of which have been
implemented to date. The Provincial Government has increased annual
funding to strengthen mental health and addictions services by $14.6
million. This funding includes initiatives which were a direct
recommendation of the task force such as an opioid treatment centre; an
adolescent day treatment centre; enhanced prevention, detoxification and
harm reduction services ; and additional counselors for mental health
and addictions offices. Also included is the most recent Budget 2008
investment of $1.7 million to further enhance programs and services for
persons with mental health and/or addictions issues.
This award follows
the most recent initiative by the Provincial Government to target
substance use. Consultations are currently being held to engage
stakeholders across the province to help develop a Provincial Substance
Use Strategy aimed at preventing and treating problematic substance use.
The Canadian Centre
on Substance Abuse has a legislated mandate to provide national
leadership and evidence-informed analysis and advice to mobilize
collaborative efforts to reduce alcohol- and other drug-related harms. CCSA
works collaboratively with governments, researchers, enforcement
agencies, treatment professionals and the private sector to achieve a
balanced and holistic approach to addictions that will lead to a
healthier and safer Canadian public.
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Media contact:
Glenda Power
Director of
Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 685-1741
glendapower@gov.nl.ca
2008 06
18 2:10 p.m.
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