Thank you for the question.
I think it's important for us to look at the Canadian drugs and substances strategy as an integrated approach. With the renewal of the strategy, which we call the “Canada model”, we are working across departments now to address poverty, housing and other social determinants of health.
What we know is that, when someone uses substances, it's a result of what.... You know, we don't say, with the trauma-informed lens, “What's wrong with you?”, but rather, “What happened to you?” That is a key component of providing the services an individual needs. We know that, in indigenous communities, there is intergenerational trauma. We see that reflected in the high proportion of substance users who are from indigenous communities.
We also know there are a myriad of factors that can result in someone using substances, whether it's prescription opioids for pain management or others. Our job, once they come to us or their local health care provider for help, is not just looking at it through a singular lens.