Cross-Node Research Placement Training Program
A new initiative for CRISM member trainees to gain cross-network training at another CRISM node! Click HERE for more information.
Application deadline Friday, April 10th 2026 - 4pm EST
Senator Tracy Muggli (Saskatchewan) – statement in the Senate of Canada, Dec. 5, 2024
Click HERE to view the video.
Supervised Consumption Sites and Safer Supply Closures
March 2026: The provincial government announced that funding will be ending for all supervised consumtpion sites in communities with a HART Hub. Seven sites will be forced to close as a result of this most recent announcement (two in Toronto, two in Ottawa, one in Peterborough, one in London, and one in Niagara).
March 31, 2025: Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP) funding expired. Under Bill 223, safer supply programs require provincial approval before applying for further funding.
December 2024: The provincial government enacts Bill 223 - Safer Streets, Stronger Communities Act
August 2024: The provincial government recently announced a ban on supervised consumption sites within 200 meters of school or childcare centres. This resulted in the closure of nine provincially-funded sites, and one self-funded site. In place of these closures, the government plans to establish a new system of care, Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hubs. HART Hubs will not offer safer supply, supervised consumption, or needle exchange programs.
Ontario Newsroom Announcements:
Ban on supervised consumption sites (Aug 2024) HERE | (March 2026) HERE | HART Hubs announcement HERE
CRISM is happy to inform you of its name change
- English: Canadian research initiative in substance matters
- French : Initiative canadienne de recherche sur les impacts des substances psychoactives
The term «Misuse» in the name has been contentious for some time, with node members calling to change it. To keep the CRISM acronym and branding, «Matters» is replacing misuse as it is more accurate to the consortium’s reach and breath.
- French required 2 changes, thus modifying the acronym from ICRAS to ICRIS.
Thank you for being supportive of this change.
National Coordinating Centre Engagement Platform
The Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced an investment of $6 million through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy (CDSS) to expand and increase the impact of the Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Matters (CRISM). This new funding includes $4 million to create a Network Coordinating Centre and $2 million to develop an Indigenous Engagement Platform that will work collaboratively across the research network.
Dr. David Hodgins at the University of Calgary will lead the CRISM Network Coordinating Centre. Dr. Hodgins and his team will establish four core platforms, including one to co-create knowledge mobilization products and activities with stakeholders and partners, and a training and capacity building platform that includes research placements and scholarships as well as mentorship opportunities for early career researchers and Indigenous scholars across all network nodes. The Network Coordinating Centre will also facilitate a trials and project support platform to facilitate clinical trials, research studies, and data sharing, and a platform to create processes and tools for the production of guidelines and best practice documents.
Dr. Robert Henry at the University of Saskatchewan will lead the development of the CRISM Indigenous Engagement Platform. Using distinctions-based and community-led approaches, Dr. Henry and his team will strengthen and increase Indigenous involvement across CRISM’s regional nodes by advising the Network Coordinating Centre on Indigenous research priorities, improving Indigenous engagement at all levels, and supporting CRISM to improve Indigenous health and well-being through Indigenous-driven efforts. The platform will include five core pillars: knowledge translation and mobilization, training of Indigenous students, Indigenous research priorities designed with Indigenous community partners, improving Indigenous methodologies for CRISM, and development of an Indigenous evaluation framework. Links to the various announcements: