National Research Agenda

2005
ISBN: 0-662-69399-X
Cat. No.: H128-1/05-443-5

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(749K)

Canada's Drug Strategy is the federal response to the harmful use of substances. These include illegal drugs, alcohol, pharmaceuticals, inhalants and solvents. The Strategy takes a balanced approach to reducing both the demand for, and the supply of, drugs and substances. It contributes to a healthier, safer Canada through prevention, treatment, enforcement, and harm reduction initiatives.

Informed Decisions

The Canadian capacity to make informed policy decisions and to develop and implement the appropriate prevention, promotion and treatment programs to address drug issues depends in great part on our collective knowledge and understanding of the nature and scope of substance use and abuse in Canada.

The Federal Government has recognized this need and through Canada's Renewed Drug Strategy will invest $28.5 million, over five years, in knowledge generation and surveillance activities. This investment will enable us to enhance our capacity to evaluate progress on objectives and improve the existing infrastructure. To provide a better national coordination of research activities and leverage investments and available resources, Canada's Drug Strategy has called for the development of a National Research Agenda (NRA).

A National Research Agenda

A National Research Agenda will provide better national coordination of research activities, create opportunities for working together and make the best use of available resources.

The Research Agenda will be based on four main pillars:

• research, including investigator-driven research and mandated research ;
  
  
• surveillance, including surveys and monitoring activities;
  
  
• evaluation, including program and intervention evaluation; and
  
  
• infrastructure, including networks a central data base and knowledge transfer mechanisms.

The National Research Agenda will provide a focus for action by identifying issues of common concern, research needs and priorities of national interest. It will be flexible and comprehensive, and include the research requirements and strategies of all partners at all levels. The Research Agenda will outline key research objectives, as well as the research initiatives needed to advance knowledge of both harm reduction and enforcement measures.

The National Research Agenda is being developed through a series of consultations and in collaboration with all parties interested or engaged in research on substance use and abuse in Canada, including provincial, territorial and municipal governments, academic institutions, and a wide range of non-governmental organizations.

To learn more about Canada's Drug Strategy, please visit www.healthcanada.gc.ca/cds

Find out what governments, non-governmental organizations, and other partners are doing – National Framework for Action – Visit www.healthcanada.gc.ca/cds-nfa