Making a Positive Impact
The cost of Canadian drug abuse on society is enormous, in terms of financial, health and social impact, but while investing time and money on the Canada drug abuse issue is clearly vital, both for the government and for the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), the question is how do you define a return on the investment made on that Canadian drug abuse fight?
For twenty years CCSA has worked at the national level to collect and analyze data and develop evidence informed multi-stakeholder responses, strategies and tools for dealing with substance abuse, says CCSAs Interim Chair of the Board, Dr. Anne M. Lavack. 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. It also means bringing together diverse groups and helping them find common ground for needed action, and seeing our partners contribute financially and in-kind toward national priorities.
Community groups, practitioners and federal and provincial affiliates also help to define a good return on the investment made on the Canada drug abuse centre, with a recent evaluation confirming CCSAs continued relevance and effectiveness when it comes to the issue. CCSA represents the governments most visible investment in substance abuse, notes Dr. Lavack. We would not have been able to achieve any of this and more without the funding and support of Health Canada, for which we are grateful. Our ultimate goal is for all Canadians to live in a society free of the harms associated with alcohol and other drugs and substances.
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