Through a team of physicians, nurses, pharmacists and therapists, the Addiction Medicine Service provides pharmacotherapy for substance dependence to alcohol, opioid, nicotine and benzodiazepines. Our services include:

• medical assessment
• maintenance therapies for opioid addiction (methadone and buprenorphine)
• treatment of concomitant pain and addiction.
• outpatient alcohol withdrawal
• medications to prevent relapse to alcohol use (naltrexone, acamprosate,   disulfiram)
• benzodiazepine tapering
• counselling
  
• group therapy
• resource room (which provides food & housing support, employment support and skills groups)
• urine drug testing
  

The service also provides education and training for health professional students and practicing health professionals interested in learning more about Addiction Medicine. All programs are located at the Bell Gateway Building at the Queen Street site.

Treatment for Opioid and other Substance Dependence

Clients who are diagnosed with opioid addiction are offered various treatment options including maintenance therapies with methadone or buprenorphine in a structured treatment program.

Clients who are diagnosed as benzodiazepine dependent are offered various treatment options including benzodiazepine tapering in collaboration with their family doctor or psychiatrist. Clients can develop and pursue an individualized treatment plan including setting goals around the reduction or cessation of the use of opioids or other drugs of concern in collaboration with their physician, therapist, nurse and other members of the multi-disciplinary team. Clients with concomitant pain & addiction are also treated in this program.

Treatment for Alcohol Dependence - Alcohol Research and Treatment Clinic (ARTC)

Clients who have a goal of abstinence from alcohol and require medical assistance to achieve this goal are offered comprehensive assessment performed by an inter-professional team that includes both a psychosocial and medical component. At the time of assessment, the MD recommends the most appropriate setting for withdrawal management and provides options for follow up care.  This can include out-patient medical withdrawal management (Day Detox) along with individual counselling when appropriate. Clients in need of in-patient withdrawal management are referred to the Medical Withdrawal Services at CAMH.  Additionally, we offer pharmacotherapy for relapse prevention, combined with professional therapeutic counselling. ARTC is currently using approved pharmacotherapies (disulfiram, naltrexone and acamprosate) and second lines therapies (baclofen and topiramate) for relapse prevention. Comprehensive and holistic treatment plans are customized for each client and include psychosocial support, case management and concurrent treatment for mood and/or anxiety disorders and nicotine dependence where appropriate.

Referral Required: No.

Contact: (416) 535-8501, ext. 36019 to book an assessment.

Located at: CAMH Bell Gateway Building (BGB) 100 Stokes Street, 3rd Floor, Toronto, Ontario M6J 1H4