New York City – Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated in a summit of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats hosted by the President of the United States, Joe Biden, on the margins of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Building on the successful work of the Coalition over the past year, the event highlighted the need to continue driving international action to disrupt the illegal production, distribution, trafficking and sale of synthetic drugs, detect emerging drug threats and promote public health interventions and prevention services.
In her remarks, Minister Joly highlighted Canada’s efforts to combat one of the most serious and deadly public health crises of our time. She noted that Canada is focused on providing timely access to a full range of strategies to help people access the prevention, harm reduction, treatment, or recovery services and supports they need, when and where they need them. She noted the $25 billion investment Canada has made in critical health priorities such as increasing access to mental health and substance use services and supports.
Minister Joly welcomed the wide range of initiatives highlighted by the Coalition, and encouraged countries to act together, with purpose and commitment, to reduce the public health and public security threats posed by synthetic drugs. She pledged to continue domestic efforts to address the illegally manufactured and powerful synthetic drug supply that is driving the overdose crisis and to strengthen multilateral efforts to address the increasing threats of synthetic drugs and organized crime.