Provides a brief recap of the daily events during CCSA’s Issues of Substance conference in November 2021. The report also provides overviews and key takeaways from the presentations of keynote speakers and invited guests, as well as the concurrent sessions and poster presentations.

Key themes and takeaways:
Attendees cited a number of key messages and themes that raised awareness, provoked thought and sparked ideas for evidence-informed changes to their own policies, practices and programming. These themes included:

• People with lived experience of substance use should be treated as experts and consulted in all aspects of harm reduction, stigma, recovery, removing barriers to access and so on.
• The sector needs to continue to work closely with and learn from Indigenous communities and other priority populations to improve the way health research is presented and programming is co-designed.
• Being compassionate, person-centred and respectful of people who use substances are principles that should be embraced by all those who work in public health.

Overall, CCSA’s Issues of Substance 2021 touched on many important topics, including the intersections between the mental health and addiction fields, the impact of COVID-19 on substance use and mental health, the expertise of people with lived or living experience of substance use, the stigma around substance use and mental health, innovative new treatment and harm reduction programs, current issues related to substances of use (e.g., opioids, alcohol, cannabis), and issues facing specific populations (e.g., youth, Indigenous Peoples, people experiencing homelessness).