The FOCUS Community Program Alcohol and other substance abuse is a serious problem that takes its toll on individuals, families and society as a whole. The estimated cost to Ontario of alcohol and substance abuse is 9.2 billion per year in health care, law enforcement, and lost labour productivity. Alcohol use alone accounts for about one-half of these costs. It is estimated that 10 percent of all deaths in Ontario result, directly or indirectly, from alcohol consumption.

The Ministry of Health developed a five-year, $12-million FOCUS Community Program to prevent alcohol and other drug abuse in 22 communities across Ontario that have demonstrated a commitment to addressing this issue. Children and youth are key audiences, with each project being asked to allocate at least one third of its budget to reaching young people.

The FOCUS Community Program builds on the success of a demonstration project to prevent alcohol and substance abuse at sites in 11 communities. An evaluation found that the demonstration project provided a promising model for preventing alcohol and other substance abuse. Based on these findings, as well as national and international research, the Ministry has developed a 5-year provincial FOCUS Community Program for implementation at the 11 existing sites, as well as at 11 new ones.

In all of the sites, a local agency with a mandate to prevent substance abuse will take the lead in implementing FOCUS. The Centre for Addiction & Mental Health had participated in the development of the FOCUS program and the selection of the sites. At the invitation of the Ministry, these agencies prepared their FOCUS applications in conjunction with local partners, such as injury prevention coalitions, businesses, schools, health agencies, recreation centres, police, and voluntary groups. About 220 groups in total are partners in a FOCUS Community Program.

Ministry funding will support program costs and staff resources. The participating communities have matched ministry funding with local in-kind resources on a 1:1 basis.