In January 2020, CPHA was funded by Health Canada to build professional and community capacity to implement a public health approach to substance use. Defining such an approach was a necessary first step. The resulting policy statement provides an overview of what CPHA endorses as a public health approach to substance use across the full range of legal and currently illegal psychoactive substances. Presenters discussed the process followed to develop the framework and the principles embodied in a public health approach. While it is anticipated that the framework will evolve over time, organizations that work with people who use substances are encouraged to consider adopting the framework.