Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy’s data and evidence framework

Organization: Health Canada

Why a framework?

The framework was developed to:

• guide the collection and sharing of data and evidence
• create processes to enhance data collection by finding and addressing data gaps, needs, and challenges
• promote the efficient collection and use of data when making evidence-based decisions
• evaluate the impact of evidence-based decisions on health outcomes

What are the components of the framework?

• Collaborators:
  • Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy partners
  • other Health Canada substance surveillance partners (cannabis, tobacco)
  • provincial and territorial governments
  • federal, provincial, and territorial working groups
  • mental health data partners and stakeholders
• Identify gaps and opportunities:
  • prioritize ways to fill data gaps
  • assess available resources
  • pursue options for collaboration
• Data and evidence
• Key considerations:
  • equity lens
  • populations of interest
  • sex and gender-based analysis plus (SGBA+)
  • quantitative and qualitative data
• CDSS foundational elements:
  • prevention and education
  • services and supports
  • substance controls
  • evidence
• Knowledge to action:
  • data to share knowledge
  • data to inform research
  • data to drive decision-making
• Expected results
  The measurable outcomes of the framework will be:
  • a strong data and evidence base that can provide critical support for policy and program development
  • innovative surveillance and research that is guided by evidence
  • impactful sharing and exchange of knowledge
• Stakeholders
  • Evaluation and feedback