Future Events
CCSA Events:
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Upcoming Webinars
Join us as we engage experts from across Canada to explore various topics related to substance use health.
Webinar Details:
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Exploring Community Responses to the Substance Use Crisis
July 23, 2026, 1-2 pm ET
Join us for an open dialogue on the challenges and successes communities are experiencing in response to the substance use crisis. Timmins Mayor Michelle Boileau will moderate this interactive Q&A-style webinar. Former Senator and former Chief of Police the Honourable Vernon White and CCSA’s CEO Dr. Alexander Caudarella will share perspectives from health care, public safety and community leadership while exploring practical, community-driven solutions. The discussion will also feature the new Small Cities Playbook for Action and Implementation Guide. Participants are encouraged to submit questions when they register and share perspectives as part of this candid and solutions-focused conversation.
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Creating Relational Safety for Youth Affected by Parental Substance Use
September 17, 2026, 12-1 pm ET
Featuring Agnes Chen, RN, Executive Director and Founder at Starlings Community
An estimated one in five young people in Canada are affected by parental substance use, yet many remain unseen until challenges escalate. Research shows that experiences such as stigma, chronic stress, caregiving responsibilities and family instability can influence a young person's relationships, help-seeking and wellbeing. This evidence-informed webinar explores how attachment-informed and anti-oppressive approaches can strengthen early intervention efforts with youth affected by parental substance use.
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Planet Youth (Small Cities Initiative series)
September 28, 2026
More details and registration coming soon!
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Standard THC Unit for Cannabis
October 8, 2026
More details and registration coming soon!
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Leveraging National Surveillance Networks for Local Action and Collective Impact
October 28, 2026, 1-2 pm ET
Featuring Dr. Samantha King, CCSA Research and Policy Analyst
Learn about the Canadian Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (CCENDU), a nationwide substance use surveillance network. CCENDU's surveillance, alerts and trend reports can support local planning, emergency overdose response and community safety efforts. Discover how real-time insights on the unregulated drug supply can bolster your community's ability to respond proactively to substance-related harms and better inform people who use drugs what's in the current drug supply.
Past Events
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National Symposium on Measurement-Based Care
In May, we joined Homewood Research Institute and the Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research to host a pivotal event to build a national agenda for measurement-based care in the treatment of substance use and concurrent disorders. Together with participants and partners, we're shaping a stronger, evidence-driven future for mental health and substance use health care.
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Municipal Leaders Table
Mayors and city representatives from across Canada gathered in Lethbridge, Alberta, in April 2025, to start developing the playbook, a collection of approaches they can choose from to address the substance use crisis in small cities and towns.
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Timmins Summit
We co-hosted a special event with the City of Timmins to examine the impact of the substance use crisis on small-sized cities across Canada. In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Timmins Summit brought together elected leaders, public health officials, drug policy experts, local service providers, resource industry leaders and people with lived and living experience.
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Bringing Our Small Cities Initiative to Europe
We were thrilled to be part of the Shaping the Future: Preparedness for a Changing Drug Landscape session in March 2025 at the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) event. It was cohosted by the European Union Drugs Agency and the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime. We shared our Small Cities Initiative and our upcoming Municipal Leaders Table with colleagues from the United Kingdom, Iceland, Nigeria, Norway and across the European Union
CCSA's Issues of Substance Conference
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Be Part of the Future in Halifax!
Immerse yourself with up to 1,000 expected attendees in three full days of learning at CCSA’s Issues of Substance. With over 120 presentations scheduled to take place, there are plenty of opportunities to share knowledge, collaborate and help shape the future of substance use health during this most crucial time. Don’t miss it! Join us November 17–19 at the Halifax Convention Centre.
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Explore CCSA’s Guidance, Tools and Resources
All our research-based publications, tools and resources are divided into six different categories of interest. They support evidence-based decision-making on substance use health issues. Select your area of interest from the choices below:
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Substances
Delve into key resources on commonly used substances, such as alcohol, cannabis, opioids, stimulants and psychedelics.
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Personal and Societal Impacts
Get insights on the personal and societal impacts of substance use and addiction , including gambling and impaired driving, and their effects on health, safety, and social well-being.
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Communities
Communities share common interests, values or goals, and interact with one another to build relationships and help networks. These materials support more inclusive, equitable, and community-informed responses to substance use and addiction.
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Treatment and Prevention
Explore medical, psychological, and social approaches aimed at helping individuals avoid or recover from substance use disorders.
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Youth
Learn about factors influencing substance use in young people, including childhood trauma and brain development, and get tools to support adult allies in leading meaningful, evidence-informed conversations with youth.
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Substance Use and the Workplace
Substance use has a significant impact on the workplace, potentially affecting safety, productivity and employee well-being. Explore research on substance use in various industries.
