The federal government is making a commitment to programs fighting substance abuse and addictions in Atlantic Canada.
Moncton-Dieppe MP Ginette Petitpas Taylor announced more than $8 million for nine projects across the region.
The funds are part of the Substance Use and Addictions Program, which provides support to a range of innovative and time-
“We need to provide wraparound care to people who use substances,” Taylor said. “Prevention, treatment, harm reduction measures all have a role to play.
“We don’t have one single solution. I think we have to really look at the holistic approach.”
Taylor said the overdose crisis is having devastating impacts across Canada.
“This crisis is certainly widespread, and we recognize it is one of the most serious public health challenges that we are faced with,” she said.
Among the projects, three are in New Brunswick and two more in Nova Scotia.
ENSEMBLE Services Greater-Grand Moncton Inc.
H.O.P.E. Helping Overlooked Persons Excel – $524,560
The money is for their project engaging people with lived and living experience (PWLLE) of substance use in the Moncton region through the provision of workshops, information sessions and group activities designed by PWLLE participants. These education sessions are increasing knowledge, harm reduction practices, and self-advocacy among PWLLE. Through this initiative, ENSEMBLE also provides all participants with access to on-site counselling and a nurse practitioner for health assessments.
Young Women’s Christian Association of Moncton
YWCA Pathways – $541,926
For their project increasing the success of women and gender diverse individuals in maintaining long-term sobriety. This project is providing one-on-one and group-based post treatment aftercare that supports individualized recovery plans including developing and practicing positive coping skills for withdrawal symptoms and/or destabilizing life events within a safe, and trauma- informed environment. The project also provides peer-led groups and networking, and adaptive wrap-around supports for women and gender diverse individuals within Greater Moncton and the surrounding area.
Sophia Recovery Centre Inc. (Saint John)
Expanding and Strengthening the Peer Substance Use Health Workforce through Co-Designed Mentorship and Wellness Training for Women – an amendment of $20,000
To provide an opportunity for women with lived and living experience of substance use in Saint John, St. Stephen, and Quispamsis, to be trained to provide community members with substance use health information, to provide mentorship, and to deliver prevention, harm reduction and recovery initiatives. The project also includes access to supervisory support from leaders with lived and living experience, access to individual therapy, participation in an ongoing wellness education program and participation in a community of practice.
The Ally Centre of Cape Breton (Sydney, N.S.)
Peer Led Community Integration Through Navigation – $186,510
For their project providing health and social resources to people with lived and living experience in Cape Breton, who have been incarcerated or hospitalized due to substance use, including individuals who are being discharged from these institutions to homelessness. The project employs two Peer Navigators to meet with individuals throughout their institutional stay to help develop release plans. The Peer Navigators provide resources to individuals post release, including support with housing, opioid agonist treatment programs, health care, treatment, and harm reduction services.
Nova Scotia Health Authority (Halifax)
Enhancing Care and Support for People Living with Concurrent Disorders – $2,673,500
For their project developing and piloting a new provincial service model for adults living with concurrent disorders and their health care providers. The model provides multidisciplinary care and support for clients. To ensure the model is client-centred and meets the needs of people living with concurrent disorders, it is informed by best and emerging practices, people with lived and living experience, and subject matter experts. The pilot is being implemented in a variety of outpatient and inpatient client care settings across Nova Scotia.
