A Guide to Addiction Information Referral for Settlement Services Professionals

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. This guide provides an introduction to basic addiction issues and the current treatment system. More from the Introduction...

Please note: In the process of posting this CAMH publication online, links to external sites were reviewed. In those cases where links have changed or are no longer in use, they have been deleted from the html (web page) version, but remain in the PDF versions. As a result, not all web pages will exactly match their PDF and print counterparts. The PDF versions will be updated if and when the print version is updated.

In addition, we have omitted all of Chapter 5: Directory of Services / Mutual Aid Groups from the posted versions, as many of the groups listed had changed contact information and/or services provided, or disappeared entirely. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Introduction

1. Basic drug information
   • What is a drug?
   • Types of drugs
2. When use becomes misuse
   • Why people misuse
   • Who uses drugs
   • Key facts about drug use
   • Ethnocultural and racial minority populations and drug use
   • Women and children in violent relationships
   • How to tell if there is a problem
   • Indirect and direct signs of drug misuse
   • Teenagers and drugs
   • Older adults
   • Informal tests
   • Formal tests
3. How to talk to clients about substance abuse
   • Drugs and the family
   • Preventing alcohol and other drug problems in the family
   • Dealing with alcohol and other drug problems in the family
   • Drugs and the law
4. Treatment choices
   • Goals for recovery
   • The risk continuum
   • Methadone treatment
   • How does methadone work?
   • Live-at-home choices
   • Assessment and referral
   • Weekly counselling
   • Daytime or evening counselling
   • Continuing care
   • Mutual aid group
   • Live-in choices
   • Withdrawal management
   • Short-term residential
   • Long-term residential
   • Therapeutic community
   • Supportive (halfway) housing

References

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