There are many options for people who decide they want to make a change to their substance use or problem with gambling.
- You may only be interested in a short-term support to help you through withdrawal;
- You might want to meet with a counsellor for a few sessions or for a few months;
- You might find that attending a group for support is also helpful;
- All these things can be found here at Fourcast which we refer to as “outpatient” treatment.
- You may however, decide that you would like more intensive support in the form of “inpatient” treatment, also known as residential treatment or “rehab.”
Keep in mind, you can increase or decrease the intensity of your supports as your needs and life circumstances change.
Treatment in Your Community
Call-in, Walk-in
If you want to talk to someone about yours or someone else’s substance use or gambling, you can call us or walk in to most sites (please note that only Peterborough has a receptionist and ability to typically see someone quickly when they walk in. You will likely have to wait longer at our other sites if you show up without an appointment). When you contact us, you will speak with or meet a Counsellor to answer your questions or explore your needs and begin to make plans. There are groups and/or individual supports that you can start right away, if you choose.
Community Withdrawal Management Support (detox at home with phone support)-CWM Team
This support is available to people who want to stop using their substance and need help to get through the withdrawal, but can’t or don’t want to go to a detox centre. This usually looks like daily contact by phone or in person with a Fourcast Counsellor. In many cases, your doctor or a nurse practitioner may need to be involved in order to make sure that your withdrawal is safe. Fourcast can also make referrals to the Rapid Access Medicine Clinic (RAAM) for medication support as needed, especially if you do not have a doctor. This is a very important stage in recovery as physical symptoms need to be managed to ensure your safety and well being. This is a program you might access at the beginning of your treatment but can also occur during periods of relapse or managing cravings at any time in your change journey.
Counselling
Fourcast offers individual and group counselling. There are many options that match the type of change you wish to make and where you are in your recovery journey. See our list of the different groups we offer. Please note that not all groups are offered in our satellite offices.
Treatment Outside of Your Community
Residential Withdrawal Management (detox)
Detox centres are located throughout the province, on a first come first serve basis. If Community withdrawal management and/or RAAM Clinic supports are not able to help you, then we can help you to find a residential withdrawal management centre (detox). Stays in residential withdrawal management are very short, typically 3-5 days in length. Most times people can be helped in a non-medical detox centre.
If you need a medical detox, we can help you to connect with them. The stays are a bit longer, usually 7-10 days. Our CWM Team (see above) can help you explore these options and decide which one would be best for you.
Residential Treatment (short term or long term)
Residential treatment programs (“rehab”) are located throughout the province. There are many free, government funded programs. There is typically a wait period for admission and it is important to know that it can take 2-3 months to get into treatment. You will need to complete an assessment, which is a standardized assessment across the province; this means all the treatment centres are using the same assessment. Fourcast can help you get the assessment done, as well as any other forms the treatment centre you are applying to wants you to complete. It is important to try to choose a treatment program that is a fit for you, and not just choose the one that has the soonest bed. If you do all that work to go to a program, let’s make sure it’s one you want to complete!
Don’t forget that you can start doing treatment with us while you wait to get into a residential treatment center, by meeting with a counsellor and checking out our groups. Residential programs are group based, so it’s important to make sure you like groups and are comfortable in groups before you go to residential treatment.