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
National Guidance for AI
Research
Service Standards
Measurement-Based Care
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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National Guidance for AI in Mental and Substance Use Health Care

Coming soon! Canada’s first national guidance for using artificial intelligence (AI) in the mental and substance use health field. A new project in partnership with the Mental Health Commission of Canada. 

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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 of experts

Bryce Barker, PhD, CE

Senior Knowledge Broker

Area of Expertise:

  • Alcohol
  • Workplace
  • Youth
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Doug Beirness, MSc, PhD

Senior Research Associate

Area of Expertise:

  • Impaired Driving
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Heather Burke

Research and Policy Analyst

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Alexander Caudarella, MDCM CCFP AM ABAM(d)

CEO

Area of Expertise:

  • Harm Reduction
  • Opioids
  • Recovery
  • Treatment
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Kim Corace, PhD, C.Psych.

Chief Science and Innovation Officer

Area of Expertise:

  • Harm Reduction
  • Mental Health
  • Treatment
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Karen Cumberland, MPA

Chief of Strategy and Community Engagement Officer

Area of Expertise:

  • Mental Health
  • Policy
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Chealsea De Moor, MA

Knowledge Broker

Area of Expertise:

  • 2SLGBTQ+
  • Cannabis
  • Impaired Driving
  • Youth
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Timothy Deloughery, CCAC, CCS-AC

Substance Use Health Specialist

Area of Expertise:

  • Harm Reduction
  • Lived and Living Experience
  • Stigma
  • Treatment
  • Workplace
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Robert Gabrys, PhD

Senior Research and Policy Analyst

Area of Expertise:

  • Cannabis
  • Mental Health
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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.
Get in touch

Latest CCSA Updates

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CCSA News

Leading the way

An inside look at advancing integrated care for mental health and substance use health across the lifespan 

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CCSA News
Small Cities Gain New Tools to Address Toxic Drug Crisis
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CCSA News
CCSA signs MOU with the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association and the Ontario Brain Institute
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CCSA News
Supervised Consumption Sites: Evidence versus Assumptions Joint Statement by the Honourable Vernon White and Dr.…
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Explore CCSA’s Guidance, Tools and Resources

All our research-based publications, tools and resources are divided into six different categories of interest. They support evidence-based decision-making on substance use health issues. Select your area of interest from the choices below: 

Substances

Delve into key resources on commonly used substances, such as alcohol, cannabis, opioids, stimulants and psychedelics. 

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Personal and Societal Impacts

Get insights on the personal and societal impacts of substance use and addiction , including gambling and impaired driving, and their effects on health, safety, and social well-being. 

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Communities

Communities share common interests, values or goals, and interact with one another to build relationships and help networks. These materials support more inclusive, equitable, and community-informed responses to substance use and addiction. 

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Treatment and Prevention

Explore medical, psychological, and social approaches aimed at helping individuals avoid or recover from substance use disorders. 

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Youth

Learn about factors influencing substance use in young people, including childhood trauma and brain development, and get tools to support adult allies in leading meaningful, evidence-informed conversations with youth.

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Substance Use and the Workplace

Substance use has a significant impact on the workplace, potentially affecting safety, productivity and employee well-being. Explore research on substance use in various industries.

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Keep informed with Addiction News Daily and the CCENDU newsletter, alerts, and bulletins

CCSA is pleased to offer the opportunity to sign up to receive news and publications on substance use trends, helping to reduce harm by supporting evidence-informed decisions.
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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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