Canadian Report: Investments to Curb Substance Abuse Paying Off

National efforts to curb substance abuse in Canada are seeing a return on investment, according to a recent report, Marketwire reported Oct. 12.

The report was prepared by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), the only nongovernmental agency in the country with a legislative mandate to reduce alcohol- and other drug-related harm. The CCSA receives a significant amount of public funding through Health Canada.

As part of its accountability commitment, the CCSA commissioned an independent third-party evaluation in 2009 to assess the relevance and effectiveness of its programs.

Results of 35 interviews and 225 surveys with substance-abuse practitioners, community groups, and other stakeholders showed that the CCSA was successfully meeting benchmarks set by the government to advance substance abuse prevention and treatment in Canada. In total, the center had implemented 70 successful programs in a variety of healthcare settings and on the web.

“A return on investment for CCSA means being confident that these strategies and tools will work because they are based on the latest scientific evidence and best practices,” said CCSA Interim Chair, Anne M. Lavack, Ph.D.

“Our ultimate goal is for all Canadians to live in a society free of the harms associated with alcohol and other drugs and substances,” she concluded.

The full report is available for download on the CCSA website.