Families for Addiction Recovery

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MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

My father used to say “Don’t wish your life away”. This was usually during exams when I looked forward to them being over. And while his advice is still sound, my ability to follow it is still lacking. FAR took every opportunity we were given this fall to educate and advocate for families affected by addiction. We presented six webinars in two months; three for caregiver organizations and three for nurses, addiction medicine physicians and psychiatrists. All but one webinar focused on the inability of our current health laws, as drafted and/or as applied, to adequately protect our loved ones from themselves/others and to protect others from them. Glad we did it; glad it’s over and I'm looking forward to some downtime as we approach the holiday season.

FAR is also on the Working Group established by Toronto Public Health to develop a Toronto model for the decriminalization of drug possession for personal use. Stay tuned for its release to the public on November 29th as well as National Addiction Awareness Week (NAAW) from Nov. 21-27. The theme this year is #DrivingChangeTogether.

Finally, if you like what we are doing, please consider making a donation on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 28th.

Be well,

Angie Hamilton

In the spirit of Giving Tuesday we ask that you consider a donation and help us help others

DONATE!

NEWS & UPDATES

FAR IMPACT 2021

It's been a busy and productive year, and we're not done yet!
Read More

FAR recently presented 'Consent and The Mental Health Act' at the Caring for the Caregiver Conference 2021.

Many caregivers report experiencing challenges with being viewed as a partner in their loved ones care by mental health service providers, especially doctors. In this session, Mary Jane Dykeman and Angie Hamilton (at minute 38:30) discuss the mental health laws, including capacity to make treatment decisions under the Health Care Consent Act, involuntary detention under the Mental Health Act and strategies for being an advocate in the system.

In September FAR was pleased to present
'Addressing stigma through clinical judgment: Strategies for working with families'
at the 2021 Annual META:PHI Conference.

FAR Co-Founder Louise Lemieux White along with Lisa Gibbs recently presented
‘Addiction: A Family Disease’ for the Canadian Nurses Association Progress in Practice Webinar Series on September 28th in English and on October 5th in French.

In this 3 minute clip from Recovery Day Toronto 2021, FAR volunteer parent peer supporter, Barb Cahill, shares her journey with her son.

COMMUNITY INITIATIVES

Louise Lemieux White, Families for Addiction Recovery Co-Founder, is pleased to be presenting a poster at CCSA’s Issues of Substance Conference on our P2P Support Program
'Building Community Capacity: Evidence-informed approaches for supporting family caregivers of persons with SUD'.

View CCSA’s Issues of Substance 2021 Posters at a Glance here

Register Here

National Addictions Awareness Week highlights solutions to help address harms related to alcohol and other drugs. It provides an opportunity for people in Canada to learn more about prevention, to talk about treatment and recovery, and to bring forward solutions for change.

The theme this year, in coordination with the theme for CCSA’s Issues of Substance conference, is Driving Change Together.

Substance use is a complex, far-reaching and consequential issue. COVID-19 is making the substance use landscape in Canada even more complex. It takes a wide range of perspectives and collective efforts to drive the needed change to shape a brighter future for people who use substances. Addiction workers, mental health workers, healthcare professionals, researchers, policy makers, knowledge brokers and people with lived and living experience of substance use and their families will come together with their passion and ideas during National Addictions Awareness Week and during the conference to #DriveChangeTogether

Learn More

Pay What You Can Peer Support Groups (PWYCPS)

Check out our over 25 weekly virtual support groups

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Recovery and the Holiday Season

Wednesday, December 1, 2021 | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

The idea of navigating the holiday season with a loved one with substance use disorder can often be accompanied by several feelings and questions as to how to approach this time of year. Presenters will explore planning for holiday get togethers, setting boundaries as needed, and the importance of communication during this time.

There is no charge to attend. Space is limited - Register today!
This event is sponsored by the generosity of Jay and Lauren Springer.
Although the event is free, registration is required.

Register Here