The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) is Canada’s national addictions agency. Our mission is to provide objective, evidence-based information and advice to help reduce the health, social and economic harm associated with substance abuse and addictions.

Established by an Act of Parliament in 1988, CCSA is an arm’s-length, not-for-profit organization supported by the Federal Government through Canada's Drug Strategy.

Headquartered in Ottawa, CCSA employs 26 full-time staff and a number of part-time associates dedicated to disseminating information, providing policy guidance, and sharing treatment knowledge and best practices related to substance abuse issues. CCSA works collaboratively with governments, researchers, enforcement agencies, treatment professionals and the private sector to achieve a balanced and holistic approach to addictions that will lead to a healthier and safer Canadian public.

Our core services:

• Information and Reference Service – Through its directories, searchable databases, bibliographies, extensive document collection, and reference enquiry service, CCSA provides a gateway to a wealth of addictions information.
• Research and Policy – CCSA compiles and analyzes evidence-based research to provide sound policy guidance and to promote informed public debate on critical substance abuse issues.
• Best Practices and Training – CCSA provides leadership in workforce development by promoting best practices and training opportunities, and evaluating possibilities for standards-setting, certification and accreditation within the treatment field.

CCSA also supports the drug use data collection efforts of communities throughout the country through the Canadian Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (CCENDU), fosters the development of national and regional multi-sectoral, collaborative approaches to substance abuse through the Health, Education and Enforcement in Partnership (HEP) model, and the dissemination of health information relating to alcohol, drugs and tobacco through the Canadian Health Network (CHN).

The May 2003 renewal of Canada’s Drug Strategy (CDS) has provided an opportunity for CCSA, Health Canada and other CDS partners to engage in broad consultations on a proposed National Framework for Action on Substance Use and Abuse. CCSA has prepared a roadmap that outlines the consultation process.

 

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