North Bay

Youth Substance Use Prevention

The Government of Canada Invests in Youth Substance Use Prevention

Pauline Rochefort, Member of Parliament for Nipissing–Timiskaming, today announced $750,000 in federal funding for the Planet Youth Nipissing initiative administered by the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit).

This investment, provided through Health Canada’s Youth Substance Use Prevention Program – Stream 2, will strengthen local prevention efforts and support healthier futures for young people in our region.

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Planet Youth is rooted in the Icelandic Prevention Model, an internationally recognized framework designed to reduce substance use and promote youth well-being. Developed in Iceland more than two decades ago, the model has led to one of the most remarkable public health successes in the world: youth substance use rates dropped from nearly half of all young people to fewer than five per cent by 2023.

The model emphasizes building communities where children and youth can thrive by reinforcing protective factors such as strong family connections, positive peer relationships, participation in sports and cultural activities, and active engagement in school life.

The funding will allow Planet Youth Nipissing to put these principles into action through locally tailored interventions, identified using data collected in 2023 and through ongoing engagement with youth.

“Young people in Northern Ontario deserve every opportunity to thrive in safe, supportive environments. This investment will empower our communities to act on local knowledge, prevent substance use, and give youth the foundation they need to succeed,” says Pauline Rochefort, MP for Nipissing–Timiskaming.

“The shared commitment to youth well-being is what drives the Planet Youth initiative forward,” says Dr. Carol Zimbalatti, Medical Officer of Health and Executive Officer for the Health Unit. “The funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada is greatly appreciated by Planet Youth Nipissing, and the team is very pleased to have been chosen as a recipient.”

The announcement was hosted by the Health Unit, with MP Rochefort and Dr Zimbalatti joined by members of the Planet Youth Nipissing Team.

Quick facts

The Youth Substance Use Prevention Program (YSUPP) is a key element of the renewed Canadian Drugs and Substance Strategy (CDSS), supported by a $20.2 million investment over five years. This funding is part of the more than $359 million committed through Budget 2023, which also includes $144 million for the Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP) to advance community-based initiatives and other evidence-based health interventions.
As part of the Government of Canada’s ongoing comprehensive approach to mental health and substance use, Budget 2024 further committed $500 million to the Youth Mental Health Fund to improve the mental health of youth and their families.
In addition, Budget 2024 provided $150 million over three years, starting in 2024-25, to Health Canada for an Emergency Treatment Fund, available to municipalities and Indigenous communities to help provide rapid responses to emergent, critical needs related to the opioid crisis.