Addressing substance use

One of the Correctional Service of Canada's (CSC) top priorities is ensuring that individuals incarcerated in Canada's federal institutions have access to:

• quality
• safe, and 
• patient-centered care

Substance use is a complex health issue  that requires a range of:

• prevention
• treatment
• harm reduction measures, and 
• other supports

CSC has a National Drugs and Substances Strategy (NDSS) that balances a strong health focus and the safety and security of staff and offenders.  The NDSS aligns with the Canadian Drugs and Substance Strategy, which was renewed to support a comprehensive, compassionate and collaborative approach centred on both public health and public safety.  

A comprehensive suite of health services with a range of prevention, education and supports

Opioid agonist treatment (OAT)

• in response to the global opioid overdose crisis
• provided to patients with an opioid use disorder
• CSC works with an expert physician from the community who provides ongoing leadership and advice

Self management and recovery training (SMART)

• is a substance use intervention focused on
• behaviours
• thoughts, and
• feelings

to support incarcerated individuals as they work toward their substance use goals (harm reduction to abstinence)

• includes concurrent disorder treatment options and peer support components 

The Prison Needle Exchange Program (PNEP)

• helps reduce the sharing of needles and the transmission of infectious diseases
• 14 PNEP locations currently available at 13 institutions, with further implementation in progress

Overdose prevention services (OPS)

• provides a safe location within the health care area of an institution where sterile equipment can be used to prevent fatal and non-fatal overdoses
• currently available in 5 locations, with further implementation in progress ​

Peer Support Program and Indigenous Peer Support Program

• availability of both non-Indigenous and Indigenous peer support workers
• Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous groups operate within many institutions

Naloxone

• available to first responders in the institutions to reduce risk of fatal overdose
• increased access to Naloxone in 2022 in areas where staff are not always present to ensure incarcerated individuals may access it directly, if needed
• available to all offenders upon release

A variety of information is available to staff and offenders, including: 

• fact sheets
• guidelines
• Responsivity Kits, and 
• other resources

Programs and interventions CSC's continuum of correctional programs address multiple types of criminal offending including:

• general crime
• general violence
• family violence
• sexual violence/offending, and
• substance use

Correctional programs offered in CSC institutions

• Integrated Correctional Program Model
• Indigenous Integrated Correctional Program Model
• Inuit Integrated Correctional Program
• Women Offender Correctional Program
• Indigenous Women Offender Correctional Program ​