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There is no single treatment approach that works for everyone. The appropriate option may depend on the substance involved, severity and duration of use, previous treatment attempts, withdrawal risks, physical and mental health, housing situation, family circumstances and personal goals, etc.
Drugaddiction.ca is a personal resource designed to help individuals and families better understand addiction and find appropriate treatment options. Choosing the right type of support can be confusing, especially when comparing detox, residential rehab, outpatient treatment, coaching, counselling, and continuing-care programs.
Our resources explain how these different approaches work, when they may be appropriate, and what to consider when comparing treatment options. We also provide guidance on important questions to ask treatment providers before making a decision.
The resources below are available to people in Ottawa who are looking for information about addiction treatment and recovery services. If you cannot find the information you need, please contact us, and we will do our best to point you toward helpful resources.
Withdrawal management is not the same as addiction treatment or rehabilitation. It addresses the immediate physical effects of stopping substance use, but it does not by itself address the underlying factors that contributed to addiction.
Beginning with an assessment, healthcare professionals review the substances being used, the amount and frequency of use, prior withdrawal experiences, physical and mental health, medications and other factors that could affect safety. During withdrawal, staff monitor the person’s condition and provide appropriate medical and supportive care.
Provides withdrawal-management services and can help determine appropriate next steps. Withdrawal Management Program includes a 26-bed facility, co-ed residential service for persons 16 years or over who are intoxicated, in withdrawal and/or in crisis related to their substance use. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Ottawa also has medical and community-based services for people seeking help with substance use.
Provides support for people seeking help with alcohol and/or opioid use. This location provides in-person and virtual services. Includes short-term individual counselling, treatment goal planning, and stabilization. Tailored to support people managing substance use while maintaining personal, work, or family commitments
Offers bilingual community health services located in Ottawa, Ontario. It provides primary medical care, mental health counselling, addiction support, and social services focused on individuals and groups facing barriers to care. Includes: Community Outreach through Social programs addressing housing, food security, and income support
Provides a centralized starting point for Ottawa residents aged 16 and older who are concerned about substance use. The service offers information, guidance, and support in discussing treatment options and finding appropriate addiction services.
This is a walk-in service with no referral required, offering low-barrier substance-use and related health supports. It is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Ottawa HART model integrates substance-use treatment, mental-health and primary care, housing support, and system navigation.
Treatment and recovery are important, but people may not be ready or able to stop using immediately. Harm-reduction services can help reduce the risk of overdose, infectious disease and other complications while connecting people with healthcare and treatment.
Ottawa Public Health reports that naloxone and overdose-prevention resources remain available through Ottawa Public Health and more than 45 community partners.
If someone is unconscious, not breathing normally or appears to be experiencing an overdose, call 911 immediately, administer Naloxone if available, and follow emergency instructions. Ottawa Public Health emphasizes that anyone can experience an overdose, including people who use drugs infrequently.
Addiction affects more than the individual using substances. Parents, spouses, partners, children and other family members may experience fear, frustration, financial stress and uncertainty about what to do.
Ottawa Public Health also identifies Families for Addiction Recovery as a resource for families affected by addiction. Families can often help by learning about addiction, avoiding judgment or confrontation, establishing reasonable boundaries, and encouraging the person to consider professional assessment and treatment.
Useful starting points include:
If you are still uncertain how to find addiction treatments servicing Ottawa, Ontario, send us a consultation request or call our toll-free number to discuss the situation and explore treatment and referral options.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction in Ottawa, and need help, free and confidential support is available. Contact us through our form.
