The Recovery and Rehabilitation pillar focuses on improving the physical and emotional wellbeing of people who use or have used substances.

Who is involved?

Agencies who provide service to those with problematic substance use work in the pillar to understand the current issues and challenges with seeking treatment in the community.

Some of the agencies represented on this coordinating committee include The Bridges (Cambridge Shelter Corp.), Ray of Hope, House of Friendship, Towards Recovery/OATC, Stonehenge Therapeutic Community, Grand River Hospital, CMHA WW and The Working Centre. The coordinating committee is currently co-chaired by representatives from The Bridges and House of Friendship.

What work is being done?

This pillar focuses on providing services to improve the physical and emotional health of people who use or have used substances. Developing service care pathways and incorporating harm reduction approaches to treatment continue to be important in moving forward the work of this pillar.

Examples of strategies in the Rehabilitation and Recovery Pillar

  • Rapid Access Addiction Clinics: Since 2016, work has been done by this pillar to open Rapid Access Addiction Clinics (RAAC) in Waterloo Region.
    • RAACs provide low barrier access for patients seeking treatment for any substance use disorder. Patients do not need an appointment and can be seen on a walk-in basis.
    • RAACS provide access to a physician, counsellor and a peer worker for people of any age, gender or income level who are experiencing health issues as a result of their substance use.
    • Two RAACs were opened in 2018 in Waterloo Region (Kitchener and Cambridge). For more information visit Rapid Access Addiction Clinics Waterloo/Wellington Guelph.
  • Advocacy for more treatment resources: An adequate supply of treatment options continues to be needed in Waterloo Region. Advocacy for more and ongoing provincial funding to meet the full spectrum of treatment needs (e.g. day treatment, residential treatment, counselling) is ongoing. Additional work with the Local Health Integrated Network is underway to secure funding to meet community demand, and to address the long wait list times that people who want treatment continue to experience.
  • Participating in Harm Reduction Activities and Messaging: Work has been done by this pillar to support current and proposed harm reduction initiatives to address overdose fatalities and injuries in Waterloo Region. Partners in this pillar have supported interventions such as increased availability of naloxone  and the need for supervised consumption services in Waterloo Region.

 

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