Report on National Invitational Symposium on Youth Illicit Substance Abuse and the Justice System : Rapport sur le Symposium national sur invitation sur la toxicomanie chez les jeunes et le système de justice

The CACP agreed to host a facilitated day-and-a-half symposium that would bring together approximately forty-two individuals from the health, justice, education and social service systems with experience in working with youth in a range of settings, including youth with substance abuse problems, youth who have been victimized, youth in conflict with the law and youth in the process of re-integration into mainstream society. The expected outcomes of the Symposium were to: increase awareness in the justice community, social development sectors, governments and the public of the relationship between illicit substance abuse and youth crime and victimization; help participants and Coalition members to modify their approach to working with youth who have illicit substance abuse problems; and build momentum for addressing, through a holistic, multi-sectoral, long-term approach, the issues affecting youth with illicit substance abuse problems who are involved in the justice system. The Symposium, funded from Canada's Youth Justice Fund (Youth Justice Anti-Drug Component), was held on 25-26 February 2009 at the Delta Ottawa Hotel and Suites.