Treatment, Support and Recovery

Treatment services and supports can help people experiencing harms from substance use or addiction. Services can include early identification and intervention, harm reduction approaches and relapse prevention. Services can also include peer support, specialized treatment, continuing care and more. Some services are available through public health care while others require private funding, and some are regulated according to standards while others are not.

In this section:

Adaptation Toolkit
Research
Service Standards
Community Resources

What Is Treatment, Support and Recovery?

Understanding that there is no one-size-fits-all treatment option is essential to providing the best possible care. By matching people with services that fit their needs, they can have a better chance of recovery. In addition, services and supports should be flexible and tailored to the needs of the individual, to accommodate all people. They should also be acceptable, accessible, available and affordable.

For these reasons, CCSA brings together knowledge and provides targeted materials to support quality treatment services in Canada. We promote the message that recovery is positive and achievable.

Featured Resource

Adaptation Toolkit: Co-creating a Local Resource with Caregivers Supporting a Young Person with Substance Use Disorder

Provides communities the processes, considerations and tools they need to adapt the Parents Like Us: The Unofficial Survival Guide to Parenting a Young Person with a Substance Use Disorder handbook for caregivers in their region. This toolkit is intended for professionals, caregivers and caregiver allies who want to create a local version of the handbook with families and caregivers leading the process.

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Putting People First

Dr. Kathryn Dong of the Royal Alexandra Hospital talks about Edmonton’s Inner City Health and Wellness Program, which is helping people who use substances to access timely and equitable health care.

Compassion

Dr. Peter Selby, Director of Medical Education, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, discusses the importance of compassion in treating addiction.

Illuminate

Elaine Hyshka, PHD, Assistant Professor at the School of Public Health, University of Alberta, and Barry Andres, Executive Director of Addiction and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services, discuss the importance of humanizing addictions treatment and recovery.

Treating Concurrent Disorders: The Importance of Collaboration

A collaborative approach to addressing mental health and substance use needs is discussed by Zachary Patterson, Knowledge Broker, and Todd Leader...

Get to know our team.

Shawna Meister, MA

Associate Director, Innovation and Evidence in Practice

Area of Expertise:

  • Impaired Driving
  • Workplace
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Shawna Meister, MA

Associate Director, Innovation and Evidence in Practice

Area of Expertise:

  • Impaired Driving
  • Workplace
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Isabelle Robillard

Director, Public Relations and Community Engagement

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portrait of Julie Menton

Julie Menten, MSc, JD (British Columbia)

Member-at-Large

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Stacey Petersen

Substance Use Collective Member

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Adam Sherk, PhD

Senior Scientist and Special Policy Advisor

Area of Expertise:

  • Alcohol
  • Policy
  • Substance Use Costs
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Adam Sherk, PhD

Senior Scientist and Special Policy Advisor

Area of Expertise:

  • Alcohol
  • Policy
  • Substance Use Costs
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portrait of Donald Nichols

Donald Nicholls, BCL, JD (Cree Nation)

Member-at-Large

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Petra Schulz

Substance Use Collective Member

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Contact an Expert

Get to know our experts at CCSA. Whether it is alcohol, cannabis, stigma, opioids, or any another topic related to substance use and addiction, our team of professionals is available to provide their knowledge expertise. Browse our staff profiles to find the right expert to meet your specific needs.
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Latest CCSA Updates

News

Harnessing the Power of Community to Tackle the Toxic Drug Crisis

The toxic drug crisis is gripping every part of our country.

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News
Statement: Public health and safety key to addressing fentanyl crisis
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News
OPENING REMARKS BEFORE THE HOUSE OF COMMONS STANDING COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
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News
Joint Statement from Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction and European Union Drugs Agency
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Browse the CCSA Network of Websites

CCSA's Issues of Substance Conference

This biannual, national conference brings together people from across the country, including addiction workers, healthcare professionals, researchers, policy makers, and people with lived and living experience
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Canadian Substance Use Costs and Harms

This project provides comparable and up-to-date data on the costs and harms of substance use in Canada and allows people to explore and analyze the data through its data visualization tool.
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Workforce Competencies

CCSA developed measurable technical and behaviour competencies in knowledge, skills and values for the substance use workforce, providing consistent care across the wide range of settings.
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Drink Less Live More

Canada has new guidance on alcohol and your health. CCSA wants you to be able to make the most informed decisions you can about drinking alcohol.
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Lower Risk Gambling Guidelines

Learn about the world’s first Lower-Risk Gambling Guidelines to help people in Canada make informed decisions about their gambling and lessen their risk of gambling-related harms. Use the Interactive Risk Assessment Tool to assess your personal gambling choices.
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The Highway Home

This interactive website takes an experiential approach to increasing youth’s and young drivers’ awareness of the risks and harms of drug-impaired driving, using real-life scenarios involving cannabis use and driving.
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CECA

CCSA contributes to the strategy development and provides secretariat, financial and support services to the council — a national, non-governmental organization that influences public policy on substance use.
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