We recognize that substance use is driven by deeper problems, and Indwell’s approach seeks to encourage tenants to address those root causes along with the symptoms and behaviours associated with their addictions. We use a variety of tools, resources and supports to for our tenants grow their quality of life and journey of recovery. Indwell’s approach to supporting people who use substances follows the four pillars approach of the Canadian Drugs and Substance Strategy (found here).
Prevention seeks to prevent or delay the onset of substance use and address root causes underlying a person’s substance use. Prevention is grounded in understanding that addressing root causes earlier in a person’s life can result in less harmful substance use behaviours going forward.
Harm Reduction refers to interventions, including programs and policies, that aim to reduce the potentially adverse health, social and economic consequences of problematic substance use, and can include (but does not require) abstinence from substances. Inherent in a harm reduction approach is “meeting people where they are at” in a client-centered, non-judgmental, pragmatic way, regardless of whether they are using substances or not.
Treatment includes supporting individuals with access to care and innovative approaches to rehabilitation. Treatment is a part of recovery and rehabilitation. The goal of treatment is to improve quality of life and individual functioning and to optimize health, while addressing substance use.
Enforcement and Justice seeks to strengthen community safety by responding to crime and community disorder caused by substance use, including (but not limited to) police, courts, and corrections. Interventions address criminal behaviour associated with substance use, while at the same time coordinating with health and social service agencies to connect people who use substances with appropriate supports.
With these four pillars in mind, Indwell uses a variety of evidence-based strategies to help tenants who use substances seek health, wellness, and belonging. For example, a number of Indwell programs employ Addiction Support Workers as part of their staff team. Some programs host Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and other related support groups in their buildings. Often smoking cessation programs are made available to Indwell tenants.
One common misconception we hear is that Indwell buildings are safe injection sites, which is false. Some of our programs do offer harm reduction supplies to tenants as well as naloxone, a life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses. Indwell programs are also not open to the public (unlike safe injection sites), but staff do focus on individualized support for the tenants who live at their programs.
For more detailed information, learn more with these articles:
https://indwell.ca/2022/10/25/love-hope-and-dignity-on-the-road-to-recovery/
https://indwell.ca/2023/11/23/transforming-opioid-treatment-sublocades-impact-at-railway-city-lofts/
