There are several forms of support that are available to assist individuals who would like to make changes to their alcohol consumption. A few of these are listed below:
- Withdrawal Management – for those who are consuming alcohol daily or near daily, those who have experienced significant withdrawal symptoms (ie. seizures, “shakes,” anxiety, restlessness and/or auditory or visual hallucinations), those whose experience with significant withdrawal symptoms have made it difficult for them to make changes to their alcohol consumption in the past and/or those who have tried several times to make changes to their alcohol consumption on their own but have had difficulty doing so
- Anti-craving Medications – for those whose cravings for alcohol make it difficult for them to make changes to their alcohol consumption and/or those who have tried several times to make changes to their alcohol consumption on their own but have had difficulty doing so
- Assessment & Treatment Centres (Counselling) – for anyone wanting individual counselling to make/sustain changes to their alcohol consumption and/or for those who are seeking referral to a residential treatment centre (on-site and overnight 18-365 day program of counselling and other activities)
- Peer Support – for anyone wanting to connect with others who have experienced challenges with their alcohol consumption
- Other – for those who are struggling with a concurrent mental health concern, history of trauma, ongoing violence etc. and this is a barrier to making change to their alcohol use
Ontario-wide Resource
ConnexOntario - phone 1-866-531-2600, e-mail, text “CONNEXT” to 247247, webchat, or visit online www.connexontario.ca
- Immediate, free and confidential mental health and substance use support offered 24/7
- Offers connection with someone who will listen, provide support and offer strategies
- Present options for local treatment services
Withdrawal Management
London
Salvation Army Center of Hope
- Address: 281 Wellington St.
- Phone: (519) 432-7241 or (519) 661-0343 ext 270 or 271
Kitchener/Waterloo
Withdrawal Management Centre (Grand River Hospital)
- Address: 52 Glasgow St.
- Phone: (519) 749-4318
Windsor
Withdrawal Management Centre (Windsor Regional Hospital)
- Address: 1453 Prince Rd.
- Phone: (519) 257-5225
Sarnia
Bluewater Health – Mental Health and Addiction Services
- Address: 89 Norman St., level 6 (Russell Building)
- Phone: (519) 464-4487
Thunder Bay
Balmoral Centre Withdrawal Management (St. Joseph’s Care Group)
- Address: 667 Sibley Dr.
- Phone: (807) 623-6515
Withdrawal Management – Community Withdrawal (withdrawal management support at home)
London
CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services – Community Withdrawal Support Program
- Address: 200 Queens Ave., Suite 260
- Phone: (519) 673-3242 ext. 1248
Kitchener/Waterloo
Offered through House of Friendship & Stonehenge Therapeutic Community
- Phone: 1-844-722-2977
Windsor
Erie St. Clair Addictions Centre
- Address: 1574 Lincoln Rd.
- Phone: (519) 977-9772
Sarnia
Bluewater Health – Mental Health and Addiction Services – Withdrawal Management Services
- Address: 89 Norman St., level 6 (Russell Building)
- Phone: (519) 332-4673
Anti-craving Medications
London
CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services RAAM Clinic
- Address: 200 Queens Ave., Suite 260
- Phone: (519) 673-3242 ext. 281
Kitchener/Waterloo
House of Friendship – Community Addiction Support Services – RAAM Clinic
- Waterloo Region NP-Led Clinic – 13 Water St. N., Cambridge
- Grand River Hospital – 850 King St. W., Kitchener
- Duke Street Clinic – 150 Duke St. W., upper level, Kitchener
- Phone: (519) 957-5000
Windsor
Erie St. Clair Addictions Centre RAAM Clinic
- Address: 1574 Lincoln Rd.
- Phone: (519) 977-9772
Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay Counselling RAAM Clinic (2 locations)
- NorWest Community Health Centre RAAM Clinic - 525 Simpson St.
- Dilico Anishinabek Family Care RAAM Clinic - 200 Anemki Place
- Phone: (807) 626-8478
Assessment & Treatment Centres (Counselling)
London
CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services
- Address: 200 Queens Ave., Suite 260
- Phone: (519) 673-3242 ext. 1221
Kitchener/Waterloo
House of Friendship
- Address: 51 Charles St. E., Kitchener
- Phone: (519) 742-8327
Windsor
Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare Addiction Assessment and Referral
- Address: 744 Ouellette Ave.
- Phone: (519) 257-5224
Sarnia
Bluewater Health – Mental Health and Addiction Services
- Address: 89 Norman St. level 6 (Russell Building)
- Phone: (519) 464-4400 ext. 5370
Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay Counselling
- Address: 544 Winnipeg Ave.
- Phone: (807) 684-1880
Peer Support
Community Addictions Peer Support Association (CAPSA)
- Offers two peer support groups – All People All Pathways group and Breaking Free Wellness group
- All People All Pathways is a group designed for people to explore their relationship to substance use
- Breaking Free Wellness is a sub-group of the All People all Pathways group that offers evidence-based practices and tools to help in making behaviour change related to substance use
- Emphasis on stigma and discrimination free conversation
- Meetings are open to those seeking help or wanting to help others
- Organization in partnership with Health Canada and Wellness Together Canada
- All meetings online
- Calendar of meetings – www.capsa.ca/calendar/list
Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART) Recovery
- Offers evidenced-based cognitive-behavioural techniques to help resolve underlying issues surrounding substance use with specific attention on four points: 1) Building motivation, 2) Coping with urges, 3) Problem Solving and 4) Lifestyle Balance
- Emphasis on non-confrontational approach
- Open to anyone who is concerned about their substance use; separate meetings for family and friends concerned about someone else’s substance use
- Non-profit organization
- Online and in-person meetings
- Find meetings by location – https://meetings.smartrecovery.org/meetings/location/
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
- Offers a spiritually-based 12-step program
- Emphasis on admitting powerlessness over alcohol, importance of seeking help from higher power and use of prayer and meditation
- Open to anyone who is concerned about their alcohol use; separate meetings for family and friends concerned about someone else’s substance use (Al-Anon)
- Non-profit organization
- Online and in-person meetings
- Find meetings by location – www.aa.org/find-aa
Celebrate Recovery
- Offers a biblically-based, recovery program that addresses Hurts, Hang-ups, and Habits using a 12-step approach
- Emphasis on learning to live differently through biblically-based teaching
- Non-profit organization
- Online and in-person meetings (depending on church that is hosting the meeting)
- Find meetings by location – www.celebraterecovery.ca/ontario/
Mental Health Supports
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)
- Offers a wide range of free programming in different locations across Canada, visit online to find local services www.cmha.ca/find-your-cmha
- Bounceback program – A free, guided self-help program using online videos and a supportive “coach” for people aged 15, visit online www.bouncebackontario.ca/
