Overview
An increasing number of jurisdictions across Canada and around the world support the concept of a balanced and integrated drug strategy, although how this plays out in terms of budgets, policies and activities varies greatly. Strategies typically embrace and attempt to find balance between the goals of supply reduction and demand reduction through prevention, treatment, enforcement and harm reduction, activities. Integration between these arenas or pillars is important because activities within one arena can affect the others, either positively or negatively. Treatment is a demand reduction measure that targets people with moderate to severe substance-related problems.
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Selected Readings
Methadone Maintenance Treatment: A Community Planning Guide
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 2009
Evidence-Based Treatment: Information for the Service Provider [PDF]
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), October 2006
Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Substance Use Disorders Second Edition [PDF]
American Psychiatric Association (APA), August 2006
Addiction Careers and the Natural History of Change [PDF]
National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA), July 2006
Youth Detoxification and Residential Treatment Literature Review: Best and Promising Practices in Adolescent Substance Use Treatment Final Report [PDF]
Alberta Health Services (AHS), June 2006
Out of the Shadows at Last: Transforming Mental Health, Mental Illness and Addiction Services in Canada
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, May 2006
Highlights and Recommendations [PDF]
Mandatory and Coerced Treatment [PDF]
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), January 2006
Treating Drug Misuse Problems: Evidence of Effectiveness
National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA), November 2005
Addiction Treatment Indicators in Canada: An Environmental Scan, 2005 [PDF]
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), March 2005
Economic Benefits of Drug Treatment: A Critical Review of the Evidence for Policy Makers [PDF]
Treatment Research Institute (TRI), University of Pennsylvania, February 2005
Alcohol Problems and Approaches: Theories, Evidence and Northern Practice [PDF]
Ajunnginiq Centre, National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO), June 2004
Substitution Maintenance Therapy in the Management of Opioid Dependence and HIV/AIDS Prevention: Position Paper [PDF]
World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), 2004
Only One in Three People with Alcohol Abuse or Dependence Ever Seek Treatment [PDF]
Addictive Behaviors, 29(1): 221-223, January 2004
Cannabis Treatment Demand in Canada [PowerPoint Presentation]
Health Systems Research and Consulting Unit, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 2003
Evaluation of Methadone Maintenance Treatment Services: First Voice [PDF]
Capital Health Addiction Prevention and Treatment Services, undated
Related Resources
Directory of the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (NNADAP)
Telephone Numbers for Treatment in your Province or Territory