Joint Statement from Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction and European Union Drugs Agency
Ottawa, Ontario, October 17, 2024 — Dr. Alexander Caudarella, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), and Alexis Goosdeel, Executive Director of the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), issued the following joint statement on the occasion of the EUDA’s four-day visit to Canada last month.
The European Union and Canada have much in common, including being home to multiple jurisdictions, communities, languages and cultures. While there are several differences, our time together in Ottawa and in Montreal showed us that we are both facing a rapidly evolving drug landscape and similar challenges in sustaining healthy and safe communities.
Both parts of the world are experiencing the introduction of new substances, an increase in accidental overdoses and a rise in drug-related organized crime. This rapid evolution calls for creativity and tangible, replicable innovations that save lives and protect communities.
Through this exchange, the EUDA has appreciated Canada’s social policy leadership, and CCSA has taken away lessons learned on the EU’s capacity for assessing future challenges, issuing early warning and analyzing related risks.
This time together and the extensive sharing of knowledge and experience has reaffirmed what research already tells us: Whole-of-health, whole-of-government and whole-of-community approaches to prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery are required to ensure that every person can access care and that every community can feel safe.
The challenges we face on our respective continents are rooted in pain and trauma, and compassion and collaboration are required as we work with people with lived experience, their families, healthcare professionals, police services and community members to find effective solutions.
On this note, we are pleased to announce our readiness to explore avenues for further bilateral co-operation between our organizations. In the meantime, we remain steadfast in our commitment to the people who we serve.
About the Visit
Over the course of their visit, the EUDA delegation, along with representatives from CCSA, engaged multiple levels of government, service delivery organizations, healthcare services and police services in discussions on substance use health policy, care, emerging trends and best practices.
In Ottawa, the program included meetings with Health Canada, the Standing Committee on Health, formal recognition in the Senate of Canada and several visits to local services providers, including The Ottawa Hospital and the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre.
In Montreal, the program focused on Quebec’s unique landscape and approaches to both cannabis legalization and harm reduction as well as discussions with police services. For more information about the visit, please refer to the EUDA’s news item.
About CCSA
CCSA was created by Parliament to provide national leadership to address substance use in Canada. A trusted counsel, we provide national guidance to decision makers by harnessing the power of research, curating knowledge and bringing together diverse perspectives.
CCSA activities and products are made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada. The views of CCSA do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada.
About the EUDA
The EUDA is the source of drug-related expertise in Europe. It began operations on July 2, 2024, replacing the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (refer to the EUDA’s news release and regulation).
The EUDA's overall mission is to strengthen the EU’s preparedness on drugs through four key inter-connected service categories: anticipate, alert, respond and learn. The EUDA's motto is “Acting today, anticipating tomorrow.”
Media contacts
Mélissa Joseph
Strategic Communications Advisor
Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
613-235-4048 x 364 I MJoseph@ccsa.ca
Kathy Robertson
Principal manager, Media relations and corporate communication
European Union Drugs Agency
(351) 211 21 02 00/32 I Kathryn.Robertson@euda.europa.eu