National Substance Use Health Week of Action
Week of September 8th – 12th, 2025
CAPSA is excited to launch National Substance Use Health Week of Action, a national campaign to promote equitable access to substance use health care in Canada.
Why is this week important?
When talking about substances, we often talk about illness and crisis. This week represents an important movement to demonstrate the need for equitable access to information and supports across the entire spectrum of substance use health. It starts with conversations and education, but most importantly, we need to take collective action to reframe substance use through a health-focused lens for all people in Canada. We will encourage organizations, decision-makers and the general public to participate in our daily calls to action that aim to shift perspectives, reduce stigma and build societies and systems that view substance use health as part of our overall wellness.
Action Days of the week
SNEAK PEAK OF THE WEEK’S THEMES:
Day 1: SPEAK UP
Silence is stigma. Start the conversation.
Most Canadians have never talked about substance use with a healthcare provider – it’s time to change that.Day 2: SHOW UP
Change doesn’t happen alone.
This Friday, thousands will gather at the WOW Festival to see what integrated services look like. Will you be there?Day 3: USE THE FACTS
The data’s in. What are we waiting for?
Canadians want Substance Use Health prioritized like any other part of health — and the numbers back it up.Day 4: CHANGE
Outdated workplace policies need to go.
Supporting Substance Use Health at work means shifting the norms, not just the wording.Day 5: PRACTICE
Compassion is a skill — not a slogan.
It can be taught, strengthened, and woven into every form of care.
Communications Toolkit
The communications toolkit is designed to make sharing information about the National Substance Use Health Week of Action. This toolkit includes ready-to-use social media content, suggested captions, and graphics for each day of the week - everything you need to help amplify the message!
Building towards WOW Festival
Each action you take this week builds momentum toward our annual WOW Festival. This high energy event unites > 2000 attendees and 150+ community partners across mental, physical and substance use health all under one tent. Featuring a research to action symposium, allyship awards, mayoral proclamation and an interactive community expo, this is what integrated care looks like in action. Tired of broken systems? Come see what's possible. We talk a lot about integration – at the WOW Festival, you get to see it. Not siloed. Not divided. Working together. Real connection. Practical solutions. One shared space. Don't just imagine a better system – come and see it in action.
How to get involved:
Follow Along On Social Media
Join us on social media as we take action all week long! Follow along for daily action posts, partner highlights, and the countdown to our annual WOW Festival!
Attend the WOW Festival
Join us in person for the WOW Festival - the marquee event of the National Substance Use Health Week of Action! Celebrate community, connection, and integrated healthcare!
Stay up to date!
Stay up to date as we build toward National Substance Use Health Week of Action to learn more, and throughout the week for daily action steps.