NNADAP After the General Review of 1998

Several other events have taken place since 1998 that have direct implications for NNADAP. These events have been directly influenced by the national review of the program completed in 1998.

  • In 1999, MSB circulated a policy paper describing the terms under which NNADAP-funded, non-medical treatment programs providing national and regional services could be transferred to First Nations' control. The policy guidelines also apply to the National Youth Solvent Abuse Programs (NYSAP). The terms include the following:
    • Both NNADAP treatment centres and National Youth Solvent Abuse Centres must be accredited by a recognized national accreditation body if they are entering into Transfer arrangements.
    • Treatment centres must be incorporated and their boards must represent more than one community or, at a minimum, an entire catchment area, presumably in which one First Nation has many reserve settlements that include a large population dispersed over an extremely wide geographic area or in which the community is so remote that shared ownership with other communities or client access to external centres operated by several communities is not practical.
    • Band Council Resolutions are required by all communities represented in the Transfer.
    • The Centres must formally report annually to First Nation communities, conduct a comprehensive audit, and supply a report on mandatory programs to MSB (i.e., the Minister of Health) that includes data drawn from an acceptable management information system (the Substance Abuse Information System [SAIS]) or its equivalent, and occupancy rates over the year).
    • Core programming funds are to be used for non-medical residential treatment, which is viewed as mandatory. MSB stipulated that, only if occupancy rates of 80% or more are maintained over the year can adjunct services also be paid for, such as outreach and aftercare.
    • Pre-transfer planning would only require a review of the Centre's operation plan and its policies and procedures rather than a full transfer planning process similar to community transfers. The requirement for an emergency preparedness plan would be waived in favour of an emergency evacuation plan.
  • In 1999 the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) established a National Advisory Group to consider the need for a National First Nations and Inuit Registry of Substance Abuse Treatment. In keeping with the recommendations of the General NNADAP Review, the Group recommended the development of a program registry containing information on the availability to First Nations and Inuit peoples of services occupying any position on a full continuum of prevention, care and follow-up.
  • Also in 1999, the First Nations and Inuit Health Programs unit commissioned a study of Treatment Outcome Measures and Data Collection Methods for First Nations and Inuit Substance Abuse Programs.

The First Nations and Inuit Health Branch is currently working in partnership with the Assembly of First Nations and the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada on the development of a national, comprehensive mental health program that aims to provide equitable, sustainable and accessible mental health services to all First Nations and Inuit communities. The program is intended to complement current and emerging programs, including addictions programs. A recent environmental scan produced by the national working group on First Nations and Inuit mental health services drew the following conclusions:

  • A clear mandate for mental health services dedicated to First Nations and Inuit is lacking.
  • Mental health services for Aboriginal people struggling with substance abuse, sexual abuse, family violence and suicide are sharply curtailed by the federal government's approach, which it describes as "bits and pieces" initiatives, short-term expedient reactions to political pressure-not a program."
  • In many Aboriginal communities in remote areas of the country, there is either poor or no access to acute psychiatric treatment, long-term therapy or rehabilitation services.

The report recommended that all levels of government should immediately resolve issues of jurisdiction and, within six months of submission of the report, draft a 5-year national mental health program for First Nations and Inuit peoples.

  • A National Partnership Committee was established in response to the national General Review of NNADAP report of 1998, as were Regional Partnership Committees. The National Partnership Committee included First Nations, Inuit and Health Canada. Representation from all Regional Committees comprised the core membership of the national committee.

    The mandate of the National Partnership Committee was to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the General Review.

  • In 1999, a federal non-profit corporation - the National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation Inc (NNAPF) - was created to better enable the National Working Group to fulfill its mandate. A Board of Directors of the Foundation has now assumed responsibility for developing a strategic approach to the implementation of the report's recommendations.