Report highlights first year of progress under Substance Use Health Emergency Strategy
Press Release
September 22, 2025
The Government of Yukon has released the 2024 Substance Use Health Emergency Strategy Report, outlining progress made between August 2023 and August 2024 to reduce harms associated with substance use.
The report highlights the implementation of 14 initial actions identified through collaborative work with Yukon First Nations governments, community organizations, health professionals and other partners. These actions are part of a broader, coordinated response to the toxic drug supply and the complex impacts of substance use in the territory.
Key achievements include:
- the expansion of harm reduction services and the launch of the managed alcohol program;
- the introduction of new land-based healing and Indigenous-led recovery supports;
- expanded access to counselling and treatment pathways; and
- increased efforts to strengthen community safety through mobile crisis response and late-night outreach.
The Substance Use Health Emergency Strategy remains a cross-government and community-led initiative, with a long-term focus on prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery support and community safety and wellbeing.
The impacts of substance use in Yukon communities are profound and complex. This report demonstrates that progress is possible when partners across governments, organizations and communities work together with shared purpose. While challenges remain, the actions highlighted in this report reflect meaningful steps toward building a more coordinated, compassionate and culturally safe response to substance use in the territory while at the same time working to combat the impact of the toxic drug supply.
Minister of Health and Social Services and Minister of Justice Tracy-Anne McPhee
The Yukon RCMP remain committed to action within the Yukon’s Substance Use Health Emergency Strategy by providing effective law enforcement service and disruption effort of organized crime, but more importantly, protection of the health and safety of all Yukoners. To that end, the Yukon RCMP has utilised tools such as the Criminal Intelligence Service British Columbia / Yukon Territory Organized Crime in the Yukon – Second Report, to provide awareness to Yukoners on the impacts of organized crime and substance use, and to promote public awareness of signs of organized crime in the community. This report assists the Territorial Police Service Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) in their enforcement strategy to further disrupt the behaviours and commodities used by organized crime in the Yukon. To that end, the CRU works collaboratively with initiatives such as “Car 867” which combine the efforts of police officers and nurses to deliver prevention strategies, harm reduction services, and referrals for treatment, which aim to thwart the deepening entrenchment of organized crime into our communities.
Commanding Officer of the Yukon RCMP Chief Superintendent Lindsay Ellis
Quick facts
- The Substance Use Health Emergency Strategy contains 43 recommended actions.
- There were 14 fatalities reported to have been related to substance use in the Yukon in 2024, down from 23 in 2023. This year, 16 substance-use related deaths have been reported between January and August 2025.
Media contact
Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
laura.seeley@yukon.ca
Thibaut Rondel
Communications, Health and Social Services
867-332-7058
thibaut.rondel@yukon.ca
Fiona Azizaj
Communications, Justice
867-332-1978
jus.comms@yukon.ca
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