List of addiction and substance abuse organizations

Overview
An addiction service assists persons (and their families) who are struggling with an addiction to drugs, including alcohol (substance abuse) or other forms of addiction, such as problem gambling and sexual addiction.

Numerous addiction and substance abuse services exist worldwide to aid in rehabilitation. Some of these services include:

Canada
Addiction Services

Addiction Services, a division of the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection, aims to assist all individuals in achieving a safe and healthy lifestyle. Addiction Services offices are located across the province of Nova Scotia and offer help to those struggling with alcohol, drug and gambling addictions. Addiction Services is operated by the District Health Authority of its corresponding community, and links to each of the individual offices are provided by means of an interactive map.

Documents and posters developed to raise awareness around the issues of alcoholism are also made freely available by the website.

NEWS AND VIEWS: Responding to Addiction Issues, is an e-newsletter provided by Addiction Services that highlights the accomplishments of substance abuse prevention, intervention and treatment across the province. The newsletters are freely available online, or to subscribe please the website. Addiction Services

Alcohol Policy Network

The Alcohol Policy Network’s (APN) mission is to facilitate the discussion and development of policies that prevent problems associated with alcohol use, and to enhance the health, safety and well-being of individuals and communities across the province of Ontario. The APN’s online services are devoted exclusively to Canadian alcohol policy issues and is designed to encourage discussion and to inform people about the various aspects of alcohol policy, and also to profile the prevention efforts and the successes of groups across the province of Ontario by means of various forums, such the Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity Forums.

The site also links to media initiatives such as keepcontrol.ca, and provides a comprehensive listing of information for specific audiences, such as the homeless, aboriginal, youth and senior populations, which are available both online and in downloadable format. The range of information available includes statistics, research and policy papers and reports, links to journals, databases and bibliographies, and other websites and web-based print resources, among others.

Please note that direct links to the APN website are not available at this time.

Canada Drug and Alcohol Rehab Programs

This site provides a free online directory of alcohol and drug rehab programs and other addiction-related services, such as sexual addiction, problem gambling and eating disorder treatment, across the country, in order to encourage those struggling with an addiction to seek out the assistance they need. Listings are provided by medical, outpatient, and residential programs, support groups, as well as by individual province. The site also provides a comprehensive listing of terms and definitions for each category listing. Canadadrugrehab.ca

Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse The mandate of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) is to provide national leadership and evidence-informed analysis in order to secure the efforts required to reduce alcohol and other drug related harms. The CCSA is fully committed to providing access to a range of information relating to substance abuse issues, with clear emphasis on prevention, and provides full access to their publications through their Knowledge Centre, which include CCSA reports, statistics and fact sheets, newsletters and serials. Available in both French and English. CCSA.ca

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada’s largest addictions teaching hospital and a world leading research center. CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, in the province of Ontario, Canada, and is a Pan American Health Organization and Word Health Organization Collaborating Centre. CAMH is strongly committed to providing assistance to those suffering from addiction or mental illness with diverse rehabilitation services tailored to suit the needs of those individuals who are at risk or are at different stages of their addiction or illness.

The CAMH site also provides access to their publications, which includes free access to the CAMH Annual Reports and Strategic Planning Documents, and the Breakthrough newsletters for clients, patients and their families. Additional CAMH publications may be ordered through the website. Available in both French and English. CAMH

deal.org

The deal.org program is affiliated with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and prides itself as being an information and prevention tool specifically for Canadian youth to encourage healthy decision making and to get involved in their communities. The site, while not substance abuse specific, does provides Canadian youths with the information they need about making informed decisions about drug and alcohol use. The site also provides access to their digital library, Knowzone, and an online magazine, Webzine, both of which contain content and resources developed by youths for youths. Available in French and English. deal.org

Health Canada

A comprehensive Drug Prevention guide is provided in the Healthy Living tab of the official Health Canada website. Health Canada actively recognizes that substance abuse is directly associated with the public safety of all Canadians. Resources include information about the Canadian Alcohol and Drug Use Monitoring Survey, and links to current and historical government publications, such as Straight Facts About Drugs and Drug Abuse, a good listing of drug and alcohol prevention publications, as well as other specialized resources and publications for target groups such as at-risk women and aboriginal peoples.

Please note that direct links to the Health Canada website are not available at this time.

keepcontrol.ca

The keep control campaign is targeted specifically to Canadian youths and provides authoritative and information about alcohol use with a strong emphasis on prevention. The campaign is an initiative of the Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA). The message that the keep control campaign believes is that if you’re going to drink be smart about it. The website provides a blog site for youths to talk about drinking, streaming television and radio commercials, downloadable tee-shirt and sticker templates, presentations, and print-ads, brochures and posters. The site also links to publications by other authoritative agencies such as the Alcohol Policy Network (APN), the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA)and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

Please note that direct links to the keep control website are not available at this time.

Kids Help Phone

Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24-hour, toll-free, anonymous telephone counseling and referral service and internet service specifically designated for children and youths. The service, although not substance abuse specific, is an essential tool for Canadian children and youth at risk. The site provides an enormous variety of information about youth topics such as health, bullying, cyberbullying, violence and abuse, and a link library to other helpful resources especially for youths. Available in French and English. KidsHelpPhone.ca

See also Kids Help Phone. National Anti-Drug Strategy

The National Anti-Drug Strategy, in cooperation with the Government of Canada, provides three action plans aimed at the prevention of illegal drug use, treating those struggling with addictions, and combating the production and distribution of the illegal drug trade in order to ensure safe and healthy Canadian communities. Resources include a comprehensive listing of terms and definitions, resources for parents and youths with a significant emphasis on prevention, as well as a governmental listing of drug and alcohol addiction services, news links, and additional links to The Drug Situation Report (RCMP, 2007), and the 2007 World Drug Report (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime).

Please note that due to the limited lifespan of this wiki, direct links to the National Anti-Drug Strategy website are not available at this time.

Ontario Problem Gambling Research Center

The OPGRC aims to develop Ontario based research through the setting of research priorities and the funding of research projects. Yearly priorities are set by the Board of Directors after a review and analysis of research trends, needs, gaps and any other factors considered relevant. To assist in the process, the Centre requests the input of those involved in problem gambling research such as treatment providers, government, gaming providers and other stakeholders. Once completed, the Centre incorporates the priorities into the two scheduled solicitations for the fiscal year. Pot and Driving Campaign

The goal of the Pot and Driving Campaign, in cooperation with the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA), is to increase awareness among young Canadians of the risks of cannabis-impaired driving. Canadian youth have one of the highest rates of cannabis use in the world and many young Canadians who use pot see it as a benign, mainstream drug with no significant negative consequences. Resources, specifically targeted to prevention, are available from the website include a discussion guide for adults, a discussion handout for youths, frequently asked questions and a downloadable promotional poster. Available in French, English and Inuktitut. PotandDrivingCampaign

Problem Gambling Services Problem Gambling Services, a division of the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection, aims to assist individuals struggling with a gambling problem, and also to provide resources to those who are assisting other with a gambling problem. The website is divided in to three sections; for people who want to make changes around their gambling, for the friends and family members, and for professionals who may have regular contact with a problem gambler, such as healthcare professionals, clergy and financial advisors. Resources include comprehensive definitions, and free to order on all self-help materials provided by Addiction Services in Nova Scotia, as well as access to numerous research reports. ProblemGamblingServices

Drugs & Organized Crime Awareness Service

The Drugs & Organized Crime Awareness Service (DOCAS) is coordinated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and works in partnership with all levels of Canadian government, and other non-governmental agencies to promote safe and healthy lifestyles in communities across Canada. In addition to its partnerships, DOCAS also provides services such as deal.org, and access to other resources such as a drug identification chart and information about drug awareness, the Drugs: Know Your Facts, Cuts Your Risks booklet, the Kids and drugs; A parent’s guide to prevention downloadable and printable booklet, and links to related sites such as the National Anti-Drug Strategy. DOCAS

United States
Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) is one of the world’s most recognizable support groups for individuals suffering from alcohol addiction, where the only requirement for membership is to stop drinking in order to achieve sobriety. Notable publications available from the website include the This is A.A. pamphlet, which denotes what A.A. is and is not, the A.A. Big Book, available in English, French and Spanish. The website also includes links to further information for professionals, and how to locate local A.A. meetings. AA.org

See also Alcoholics Anonymous

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

The mission of Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is to stop drunk driving, to support the victims of drunk drivers and to prevent underage drinking. Publications include links to the MADDVOCATE magazine, and numerous brochures on grief, injury, and legal advice. MADD.org Or in Canada, MADD.ca

See also Mothers Against Drunk Driving

National Institute on Drug Abuse

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is a national research leader and information provider on drug abuse and addiction in the United States. Notable resources available from the website include a comprehensive listing of drug abuse and related topics, and publications such as the "NIDA Publication Series, including the NIDA Research Reports''.

See also National Institute on Drug Abuse

International
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

As a global leader in the fight against the international illegal drug trade, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) assists its Member States in their efforts to bring international illegal drug trade, crime and terrorism. Although this website is not directly substance abuse specific, it does provide numerous resources that demonstrate the efforts and hard work of the United Nations and its Member State, and that they are making a difference in combating the international illegal drug trade, which is essential for ensuring safe and healthy persons and communities around the world. Important publications to note include the UNODC Annual Report, available for complete download in English, and the World Drug Report, also available for complete download in English from the website. UNDOC World Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations, and offers a comprehensive listing under the Programmes and projects tab on Management of Substance Abuse. This includes terminology and classification such as the WHO lexicon of alcohol and drug terms, facts and figures, publications by topic such as prevention and treatment, and publications by source, such as articles or relevant resources from other WHO departments. The WHO website also provides links to other relevant sites, such as the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). WHOManagementofSubsstanceAbuse