Between January 2016 and March 2024, there were more than 47,000 opioid related deaths in Canada, highlighting the need for practical, community-based solutions to address this crucial matter.

In recognition of this critical issue, CADCA President and CEO General Barrye L. Price, Ph.D, and Chief Strategy Officer Pat Castillo traveled to Ontario in early September to attend the Timmins Summit, a national meeting focused on the impact of substance use on small cities and towns across Canada. Organized by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction and the City of Timmins, Ontario, this first-of-its-kind initiative brought together municipal leaders, healthcare professionals, drug policy experts, and other key stakeholders to collaborate on strategies to address the substance use crisis.

“We are grateful to the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction and the City of Timmins for hosting this event,” said General Price. “The fight against the opioid epidemic knows no borders and collaborative efforts like these are essential in finding workable solutions.”

During the event, participants began the development of the first municipally led, integrated standards for treatment, harm reduction, recovery, prevention and enforcement services, policies, and strategies. A key highlight of the Summit was a keynote panel discussion featuring General Price, who provided valuable perspectives on successful approaches to coalition building and drug use prevention in the United States.

“People want to be heard and take action to solve the crises we are facing together,” said Dr. Alexander Caudarella, Chief Executive Officer at CCSA. “In Timmins, different voices and perspectives came together. Through this initiative, we hope to put the power in the hands of communities and to support them in identifying and implementing the appropriate solutions for them. Hearing about the CADCA coalitions and the transformational change prevention efforts have had in diverse US settings is impressive and aligned with what we are trying to achieve. I look forward to continuing to learn from each other.”

Price and Castillo also had the opportunity to engage with policymakers and healthcare professionals and share how CADCA’s community-led coalition model in the U.S. has proven effective in addressing substance use challenges.