Individual and Family Treatment for Alcohol Addiction

Mary* called us recently to inquire about residential alcohol treatment for her husband, David*, and family support (specifically boundaries and enabling) counselling for herself in Ontario.

Our time with Mary tackled two issues. We provided resources for David – assessment, detox, residential, Ontario Health Insurance, and private treatment.
We also went over resources for Many and explained how to access these services as an affected loved one. Mary was dealing with intense feelings of suffocation because she could not go anywhere or do anything without David falling apart and getting drunk at home. The effects of David’s depression, his first relapse, and his heightened neediness when he is off work (David does seasonal work) all have taken a toll on Mary.

These are the resources and links we provided Mary:

This link will provide you with useful information for substance-affected family members and friends: http://www.sunshinecoasthealthcentre.ca/family-addiction-help.html

BOUNDARIES

This is a list of printed resources on boundaries for families affected by addiction:

Addictive Relationships: Reclaiming Your Boundaries  (1989) Joy Miller
Better Boundaries: Owning and Treasuring Your Life (1997) Jan Black, Greg Enns
Boundaries – Where You End And I Begin: How To Recognize And Set Healthy Boundaries (1994) Anne Katherine
Boundaries and Relationships: Knowing, Protecting and Enjoying the Self  (1993) Charles Whitfield
Boundaries in Marriage  (1999) Henry Cloud and John Townsend
Boundaries in Marriage  (1999) Henry Cloud and John Townsend
Boundaries in Marriage – Participant’s Guide (2002) Henry Cloud and John Townsend
Boundaries: When to say Yes, When to Say No, To Take Control of Your Life (1992) Henry Cloud and John Townsend
Where to Draw the Line: How to Set Healthy Boundaries Every Day (2000)

Here are some of, CDR operator, Sunshine Coast Health Center’s blogs on boundaries and family support:

1. When Addiction is close to home: A Toolkit for Families
2. Emotional Hangovers

LOCAL OPTIONS – ASSESSMENT OFFICE

Mary and David live near Norwood. These were the closest offices they could to get David’s assessment and options for Mary:

Four Counties Addiction Services Team (Four CAST)
2nd floor 1011 Elgin St. W
Cobourg, ON K9A 4K9
Phone: (905) 377-9111 Toll-Free: 1(800) 461-1909 
Fax: (905) 377-9392
E-Mail: fourcast@fourcast.ca
 Website: www.fourcast.ca

Lakeshore Counselling

975 Elgin Street
Cobourg, ON K9A 4K9
Phone: (905) 377-9111
 Toll-Free: 1(800) 461-1909 
E-Mail: fourcast@cogeco.net

Campbellford Memorial Hospital
246-146 Oliver Road Campbellford, ON K0L 1L0
Phone: (705) 653-3352 Toll-free: 1(800) 461-1909
E-Mail: fourcast@cogeco.net

Four Counties provides assessments and outpatient counselling for youth and adults, including pregnant women and mothers with children 6 months of age or younger. Open Thursday and Friday only.

DETOX

These are the detox services available in your area if David needs support during withdrawal (which is quite common for alcoholism):

Cobourg Withdrawal Management Services (Detox)

Four Counties Addiction Services Team (Four CAST)
2nd floor 1011 Elgin St. W
Cobourg, ON K9A 4K9
Phone: (905) 377-9111 Toll-Free: 1(800) 461-1909 
Fax: (905) 377-9392
E-Mail: fourcast@fourcast.ca
 Website: www.fourcast.ca

Home detox is provided with support and monitoring offered by a withdrawal management professional. Clients are assisted with withdrawal symptoms on an outpatient basis (in-office or by phone).

PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT

This is one example of programs we provided Mary that we believed would be optimal for David:

Life Science Addiction Treatment Center
114 Rue Kimpton
Rigaud, QC J0P 1P0
Phone: (450) 451-9995 Fax: (450) 451-9995
Website: www.life-science.ca
E-Mail: info@life-science.ca

They charge $8,000 for 30 days (extensions up to 90 days can happen). Life Science uses evidence-based and best practices models. This facility works with the client to design a treatment program that works best for him or her. Life Science will help with implementing proper coping strategies in regards to stress. Treatment takes place in a home-like environment located in a rural area of Quebec. It is also an English speaking program. If necessary, in addition to seeing an addiction medicine doctor, David would see a psychiatrist for a mental health assessment. Life Science does not offer onsite detox, so David will have to be sober prior to admission (check with Life Science to see how long David must be sober for).