Methadone & Suboxone Treatment Programs in Ontario
Parker* from Northern Ontario is looking for the facility, Camillus Centre. He had heard through the grapevine that they accept individuals on Methadone and Suboxone. He works as a training coordinator where he supports students in the heavy machinery training program and then helps find employment afterwards. However, he’s been getting several calls from students who are on stabilized methadone or Suboxone doses and are being refused employment because the employer says they are not “sober”. Parker is looking for programs or centres that will help these students off of Methadone or Suboxone, so they can secure employment and put their new skill to use. To his surprise, we told him it’s not the Camillus Centre he’s looking for, it’s the Oaks Centre for Withdrawal (which is also offered by St. Joseph’s General Hospital). We discussed that his students on Methadone will need to taper to 30mg or less before they can attend the centre and complete their withdrawals. The Camillus Centre is for treatment once individuals are sober if they need help with coping, creating a foundation for recovery, etc. Parker and any other teacher/instructor/professor in this position will need to tell their students that they need to work with their Methadone/Suboxone prescriber and ask to taper at a safe rate to maintain stability. It may be good to start this as soon as possible when Methadone/Suboxone use becomes known. This situation also made us wonder if this was a labor violation or unethical to deny a potential interviewee a chance at employment because of a taboo prescribed substance. It’s similar to not hiring someone because they are on antidepressants (stabilizing their mood). We suggested Parker look into the Ontario labour codes to see if employers had the right to deny employment on the basis of a Methadone or Suboxone prescription. This way he could better coach his students on defending their labour rights if, in fact, they are being denied a chance at employment because of description towards methadone or Suboxone...
Resources for Parents & Teen Marijuana Use
This mother, Karen*, called in distraught that the OHIP mental health and addiction office in her community will not assist her in helping her son realize the harms of smoking marijuana or the future problems it could cause for him. Her son, Drew*, is almost 16. This means any public treatment/therapy must be voluntarily, unless court ordered. This is something brought up by parents all over Canada. Legally, their teens are not adults until 18 or 19 meaning parents are responsible for them still, but provincial healthcare systems will not intervene because these youth are old enough to make “their own choices”. The most we could do was give Karen some resources on boundaries, enabling, and parenting. Online meetings are also a good option if her local MHA office cannot assist her directly. OUTPATIENT TREATMENT Because this office is unable to assist you in getting some counselling for Drew, I would suggest that you call them back and book an appointment for yourself. See if there is a counsellor there who can suggest some positive coping strategies for yourself or who can coach you on talking with your son. Community Addiction Services of Niagara 540 King Street Welland, ON L3B 3L1 Phone: (905) 684-1183 ext. 221 E-Mail: mchudy@cas-n.ca PARENT RESOURCES This page has all sorts of resources and approaches for helping you deal with your child’s substance use: http://www.sunshinecoasthealthcentre.ca/teen-addiction.html Here are list of books on boundaries and enabling (One of these might help you set some boundaries): 1. Addictive Relationships: Reclaiming Your Boundaries (1989) Joy Miller 2. Better Boundaries: Owning and Treasuring Your Life (1997) Jan Black, Greg Enns 3. Boundaries – Where You End And I Begin: How To Recognize And Set Healthy Boundaries (1994) Anne Katherine 4. Boundaries and Relationships: Knowing, Protecting and Enjoying the Self (1993) Charles Whitfield 5. Boundaries in Marriage (1999) Henry Cloud and John Townsend 6. Boundaries in Marriage – Participant’s Guide (2002) Henry Cloud and John Townsend 7. Boundaries: When to say Yes, When to Say No, To Take Control of Your Life (1992) Henry Cloud and John Townsend 8. Where to Draw the Line: How to Set Healthy Boundaries Every Day (2000) Anne Katherine MEETINGS Here is a Nar-Anon support group for affected loved ones of substance abusers: Nar-Anon Family Groups of Ontario PO Box 20046 2900 Warden Avenue, Scarborough ON M1W 3Y9 Phone: (416)239-0096 Toll-free: (877)239-0096 E-Mail: info@naranonontario.com Website: www.naranonontario.com ONLINE MEETINGS 1. AAOnline.net 2. Lamplighters Group of Alcoholics Anonymous 3. Online Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous 4. Cocaine Anonymous Online Service Area 5. LifeRing 6. Narcotics Anonymous Chat and Online Meetings 7. NA Chatroom 8. Online Al-Anon Lastly, here is the contact information for the closest NA meeting to you: http://www.niagarana.com/meetings.html For additional information on available peer-support meetings, visit: ...
Getting into OHIP Public Addiction Treatment
Marie* went to Leipzig Serenity Retreat in Saskatchewan. She didn’t say when she attended or how long she had remained sober post-treatment, but she relapsed. Marie also didn’t want to go to the AA meetings because she didn’t feel comfortable without the support of people like the LSR staff and alumni. She was worried about paying for treatment a second time if it didn’t work the first time. I asked her if she had made any effort to seek out a therapist or call the program back. She said I did a few times and then stopped. Since Marie’s current option seems to only be public treatment, we gave information on assessment offices, detox units, and residential treatment programs and told her that she needed to do her homework. This section covers OHIP funded treatment programs. To get into a government funded program there are set of steps that typically need to happen: You will need to be sober (A medically-supervised withdrawal unit is suggested for those with severe alcohol use and dependency). Once you are sober, book an appointment with a drug and alcohol counsellor at the closest local mental health and addiction office. The counsellor will likely (1) refer you to an outpatient program as an interim solution and (2) put you on a waitlist for a residential treatment program. Once wait listed, it is important to stay sober before your intake date (which could be weeks to months). This means going to peer-support meetings, attending outpatient therapy, keeping busy and not becoming idle (e.g. volunteering, going to the gym, or anything that will keep you occupied until it’s treatment time). Once in residential treatment, clients will spend their time in an intensified treatment program. With the pre-treatment sober time and new personal knowledge and understanding of coping, relapse prevention, and self-awareness, a person can hopefully return back home and learn to flourish in a life. It will be beneficial to research the programs you may be referred to. Here are some questions to consider asking to ensure your needs are met once you start treatment. Once you have answers to those basic questions. There are typically two options from this point: 1. This program isn’t going to work because you don’t like the sound of the program, the wait list is too long, or too expensive. So the next step is to call the next program. 2. You like this program and you start asking them the following questions. DETOX (These are the closest withdrawal units close to you) Norfolk General Hospital – Holmes House 394 West Street Simcoe, ON N3Y 1T9 Phone: (519) 428-1911 Toll-Free: 1(888) 999-4966 Fax: (519) 428-7756 Website: http://www.ngh.on.ca/services/detox.html Niagara Health System – Niagara Regional Women’s Withdrawal Management Service 6 Adams Street St. Catharines, ON L2R 2V8 Phone: (905) 682-7211 ext.2 Phone: (905) 687-8639 Website: www.drugandalcoholhelpline.ca/Directory/Program/6850 Alexandra Hospital – Centre of Hope Withdrawal Management Centre 281 Wellington Street London, ON N6B 2L4 Phone: (519) 432-7241 Fax: (519) 672-4025 Website: http://www.drugandalcoholhelpline.ca/Directory/Program/6095 St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) Womankind Addiction Service 431 Whitney Avenue Hamilton, ON L8S 2H6 Phone: (905) 545-9100 The link below is where we collect this information from. If you want to look at other cities you can use our directory to search other options: http://www.canadadrugrehab.ca/ON/Ontario-Medical-Detox-Alcohol-Drug-Rehab-Programs.html#medical ASSESSMENT AND OUTPATIENT LOCATIONS Simcoe Outpatient Agencies Community Addiction and Mental Health Services of Haldimand and Norfolk West Street Medical Centre 103-216 West Street Simcoe, ON N3Y 1S8 Phone: (519) 426-3257 Toll-Free: 1(877) 909-4357 E-Mail: addictions@amhs.ca Norfolk General Hospital - Holmes House 394 West Street Simcoe, ON N3Y 1T9 Phone: (519) 428-1911 Toll-Free: 1(888) 999-4966 E-Mail: lpollet@ngh.on.ca New Credit Social and Health Services RR 6 Hagersville, ON N0A 1H0 Phone: (905) 768-1181 Tillsonburg Outpatient Agencies Addiction Services of Thames Valley (ADSTV) 96 Tillson Avenue...
Addiction Treatment Programs with Strong Mental Health Components
Rob* called in for his 45-year-old sister, Sara*, at the end of August looking for treatment programs that would help her deal with mental health stability rather than abstinence. Sara has already attended Bellwood 4-5 times, which was covered by her employer (a county in Ontario). Sara is described as a binge drinker with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. She was recently disciplined for drinking on the job. The three major mental health programs in Ontario include: Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care in Penetanguishine CAMH Anxiety and Mood Disorders Inpatient Program in Toronto Meadow Creek Residential Treatment in Ottawa If the employer wanted to pay for private treatment again or if the family wanted to pay a fee, we recommended Joey Marcelli for intervention services and the Freedom from Addiction Recovery Home to keep her in...
Detox Units in Toronto, Ontario, and Surrounding Areas
This caller was looking for detox programs that would help his cousin get through her withdrawals. Community Care Centre (Addiction Services – Royal Victoria Hospital) 70 Wellington Street West Barrie, ON L4N 1K4 Phone: (705) 728-4226 ext. 24300 or 24100 Fax: (705) 728-7308 Website: http://www.drugandalcoholhelpline.ca/Directory/Program/262 Description: Provides a non-medical withdrawal management service to clients requiring rehabilitation for addiction. Available to anyone over 16 years who is intoxicated, in withdrawal, or in a crisis due to the use of alcohol and/or other substances. Attempts to assist clients through withdrawal in a safe, caring, non-threatening, and empathetic environment. Withdrawal Management Centre – Religious Hospitallers of Saint Joseph of the Hotel Dieu of Kingston 240 Brock Street Kingston, ON K7L 5G2 Phone: (613) 549-6461 Toll-Free: 1(888) 795-6688 Website: http://www.drugandalcoholhelpline.ca/Directory/Program/933 Description: A 22-bed co-ed non-medical withdrawal unit for adults 16+. Staff is not medically trained so clients must be sufficiently stable prior to admission. Contact this program to determine suitability. Four Counties Addiction Services Team (Four CAST) 2-86 Russell Street W Lindsay, ON K9V 6A5 Phone: (705) 876-1292 Toll-Free: 1(800) 461-1909 Fax: (705) 878-8401 E-Mail: fourcast@fourcast.ca Website: www.fourcast.ca Description: Home detox support and monitoring provided by a withdrawal management professional. Clients are assisted with withdrawal symptoms on an outpatient basis (in-office or by phone). Pinewood Centre (Lakeridge Health) Residential Withdrawal Management Services (RWMS) 300 Centre Street S Oshawa, ON L1H 4B2 Phone: (905) 723-8195 Toll-Free: 1(888) 881-8878 Fax: (905) 723-1006 Website: www.pinewoodcentre.org/services-withdrawal-management-program.php Description: Staff is not medically trained so clients must be sufficiently stable prior to admission. Contact this program to determine suitability. Also offers a home detox program where clients are assisted by trained professionals via telephone support. Toronto Withdrawal Management Services (Detox) Withdrawal management (“detox”) services are available upon self or health provider referral. The Toronto Withdrawal Management Services System central access number (1-866-366-9513) is your connection to day, community and residential withdrawal management services. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) 3rd floor – 60 White Squirrel Way Toronto, ON M4G 3Z1 Phone: (416) 535-8501 ext. 36071 Toll-Free: 1(800) 463-2338 ext. 6616 Website: CAMH Medical Withdrawal Unit Description: An 18-bed medical detox supervised by medically trained staff. Clients can self-refer between 8am -2pm Monday – Friday, no admissions on weekends or public holidays. Humber River Regional Hospital Bridgewood Chemical Dependency Program – Elective Inpatient Withdrawal Program 2175 Keele Street Toronto, ON M6M 3Z4 Phone: (416) 658-2029 Website: Mental Health and Addiction Services Description: All clients are monitored by medically trained staff. There are 11 beds in the psychiatric care unit for acute withdrawal. St. Joseph’s Health Centre Withdrawal Management Service 30 The Queensway Toronto, ON M6R 1B5 Residential Detox: (416) 530-6400 Home Detox: (416) 530-8000 ext. 6141 Toll-Free: 1(866) 366-9513 Website: St. Joseph’s Withdrawal Unit Description: A non-medical detox, so clients must be sufficiently stable prior to admission. Contact this program to determine suitability. For mild to moderate symptoms, St. Joseph’s also provides home detox via telephone support while going through withdrawal at home. Clients must be referred through Access Central. There are 26 beds for detox: 7 male crisis beds, 3 women crisis beds, and 16 beds for withdrawal management. St. Michael’s Hospital Withdrawal Management Services 135 Sherbourne Street Toronto, ON M5A 2R5 Home Detox Inquiries: (416) 864-5874 Toll-Free: 1(866) 366-9513 Phone: (416) 864-5040 Website: St. Michael’s Withdrawal Unit Description: A non-medical, non-smoking detox for men 16+. Contact this program to determine suitability For mild to moderate symptoms, St. Joseph’s also provides home detox via telephone support. Toronto East General Hospital Withdrawal Management Centre 985 Danforth Avenue Toronto, ON M4J 1M1 Hospital Detox: (416) 461-2010 Home Detox: (416) 461-2189 Toll-Free: 1(866) 366-9513 Website: Toronto East General Hospital Withdrawal Management Centre Description: A...
Family of 3 needs treatment in Sarnia, Ontario
Every caller’s situation is different and unique. In our blogs we try to highlight the uniqueness of each person’s addiction. This next story is an excellent example of that. The caller, Jeff*, and his girlfriend’s 20-year-old daughter, Amy*, both struggle with addiction and dependency issues. All three live in Sarnia, Ontario. We began with providing Jeff with a list of assessment offices in Sarnia. We suggested Jeff contact them first to see what resources and services they can provide for him and his girlfriend as an affected loved one (e.g. family support). This way, Jeff can “kill two birds with one stone” because you can also find out what options are available for Amy. SARNIA OUTPATIENT – Government or Contracted Agencies Bluewater Health, Lambton County Addiction Services 209 Essex Street Sarnia, ON N7T 4S1 Phone: (519) 464-4400ext.5370 E-Mail: pstebbins@bluewaterhealth.ca Assessment and outpatient counselling for youth and adults. Bluewater Health also has an intensive outpatient program (typically for one week on a daily basis for several hours each day). Westover Treatment Centre 350 Indian Road Sarnia, ON N7T 3W8 Phone: (519) 692-5110 E-Mail: homeoffice@westover-fdn.org Outpatient counselling for youth, adults, and affected family members and significant others. Here is a link to all the residential treatment program in Ontario: http://www.canadadrugrehab.ca/ON/Ontario-Residential-Alcohol-Drug-Rehab-Programs.html#adult We suggested Jeff and his girlfiend print off a list of the programs that interest him or he would be willing to help Amy travel, such as a program that is 90+ days, women-only, includes trauma therapy, etc. Contact the Ontario Health Insurance hotline (1-800-565-8603) for public addiction treatment and don’t forget to use our “questions to consider asking facilities” when researching treatment options prior to detox and assessment. GOVERNMENT TREATMENT: When Jeff calls the Ontario Drug and Alcohol 24-hour hotline, we advised him to ask for the following 4 pieces of information: 1. Initial assessment facilities – In order to get a referral to a government treatment program you must be assessed first. 2. Available detox facilities – Depending on how severe the substance dependency is, a medical detox may be needed. 3. Outpatient Treatment – These programs are typically 6-12 weeks long, once a week, for 1-6 hours at a time. – They provide more support than meetings, but less than rehab. – This is sometimes a good interim solution while you or Amy are waiting to get into a rehabilitation program. 4. Residential treatment options...
