Introduction

A Guide to Addiction Information Referral for Settlement Services Professionals

In the process of establishing a new life in Canada, people may encounter numerous challenges. Many of them face difficulties with basic settlement issues such as obtaining employment, housing or schooling for themselves or their children. Others may be concerned with immigration issues of legal status and family reunification. In addition, some people have other significant issues they need to address along with settlement issues. Unless they are resolved, such difficulties can impede the individual and the family in their settlement and integration into a new society.

Often, settlement counsellors are the first service providers to encounter newcomers. The settlement needs of these newcomers may be compounded by emotional and psychological upheaval, which often accompany uprooting and major life changes. As a result, settlement counsellors must respond effectively to a unique combination of issues including problems associated with the use of alcohol and other drugs. Through a basic understanding of how alcohol and drugs work and some familiarity with the addictions field, settlement service providers can recognize these problems and help clients confidently and effectively by providing useful information and referrals.

This guide provides an introduction to basic addiction issues and the current treatment system. It serves as a quick reference guide for professionals working in settlement services, who are accustomed to dealing with a range of issues. The contents are taken from a variety of information sources available at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

The authors are particularly indebted to the project teams who worked on:

• Alcohol and Drug Treatment in Ontario: A Guide for Helping Professionals
• Introduction to addiction training: a handbook for professionals working in settlement services (unpublished).

For more information on the topics in this guide, or these and other resources, contact the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s 24-hour Information Line - Ontario toll-free: 1-800-463-6273 and Toronto: (416) 595-6111. Selected information for clients is also available in Cantonese, Mandarin, Farsi, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Serbian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil and Urdu.

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