Minister of Health announces funding for national project to address substance abuse among people with disabilities

News Release
2005-116
November 3, 2005
For immediate release

OTTAWA - Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh today announced the contribution of more than $430,000 over the next three years to the Canadian Association for Independent Living Centres for their national project, Responding to Substance Abuse: An Independent Living Approach. The funding for this project is delivered under the Drug Strategy Community Initiatives Fund (DSCIF).

'Substance abuse and addiction are serious issues that don't discriminate,' said Minister Dosanjh. "They affect Canadians from all walks of life, including those with disabilities. This project truly reflects this reality and provides relevant information and support that will benefit disabled individuals within our society who are dealing with harmful substance use in their lives."

The goal of the project is to increase the capacity to address substance abuse among persons with disabilities in all regions of Canada. It will include a national needs assessment and survey, outreach activities and partnership building with addiction professionals, training for staff of the 26 Canadian Association for Independent Living Centres located across the country, workshops and peer support initiatives.

This project is among a number of national, regional and community projects to be considered for funding through the DSCIF, following a call for proposals in January 2005. As other projects are approved, they will be announced in the coming months.

The funding is part of Minister Dosanjh's August 30, 2005, national announcement of the Government of Canada contributions over the next three years for national, regional and community initiatives aimed at addressing substance abuse in Canada. The total funding in that national announcement includes $29 million under the DSCIF.

The DSCIF funding program is part of Canada's Drug Strategy. This strategy supports initiatives aimed at addressing the harms associated with alcohol, other drugs and substances using a four-pillar approach of prevention, treatment, enforcement and harm reduction. Funding for the DSCIF was provided for in the February 2005 federal budget.

For more information about the project, Responding to Substance Abuse: An Independent Living Approach, please contact the Canadian Association of Independent Living Centres: (613) 563-2581

To learn more about the Drug Strategy Community Initiatives Fund, visit:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hc-ps/drugs-drogues/dscif-ficsa/index-eng.php