Ready, Set, Change
Ambivalence is most evident here, as clients weigh the pros and cons of change without committing to action.
What is contemplation?
This type of addiction involves repetitive behaviours rather than substances, yet activates similar brain reward pathways and patterns of loss of control.
What is a behavioural (process) addiction?
This type of peer-led support group follows a structured recovery program and is commonly associated with a 12-step approach.
What are mutual-help groups (e.g., AA or NA)?
This perspective views addiction as impacting the entire household, where changes in one person’s behaviour affect all family members.
What is addiction as a family illness?
This approach to substance use focuses on reducing health and social harms while respecting client choice rather than requiring abstinence.
What is harm reduction?
A client shows little concern about their behaviour and may attend counselling due to pressure from others rather than personal motivation.
What is precontemplation?
This behaviour involves returning to gamble again in an attempt to recover previous losses, often worsening financial harm.
What is chasing losses?
This level of addiction service provides short-term medical and supportive care to help people safely manage withdrawal symptoms.
What is withdrawal management or detoxification services?
This family assessment tool visually maps relationships, patterns of substance use, mental health concerns, and cultural themes across multiple generations to support strengths-based family work.
What is a genogram?
This overdose-reversal medication can temporarily restore breathing following an opioid overdose and must still be followed by emergency medical care.
What is naloxone?
This stage is marked by visible behavioural changes, active effort, and the use of coping strategies to support new patterns.
What is action?
This pattern includes increased preoccupation with gambling, unsuccessful attempts to cut back, and continued gambling despite negative consequences over time.
What is Gambling Disorder?
This community-based resource offers ongoing counselling, group programming, and recovery supports while clients continue living at home.
What is outpatient treatment?
This peer-led approach supports relatives of individuals with alcohol use concerns by shifting the focus from controlling substance use to developing autonomy, healthier boundaries, and emotional independence within the family system.
What is Al-Anon?
These services provide supervised environments, sterile supplies, and access points to health and social supports for people who use substances.
What are supervised consumption services (SCS)?
A client has decided they want to change and has begun researching supports, talking with family, and planning how to fit changes into their daily routine.
What is preparation?
This screening tool consists of twenty yes-or-no questions, where multiple affirmative responses suggest possible gambling-related harm.
What is the GA-20 (Gamblers Anonymous 20 Questions)?
This level of addiction treatment involves living on-site, receiving structured programming, and accessing 24-hour support as part of an intensive recovery environment.
What is residential (or in-bed) treatment?
This counselling approach focuses on improving communication patterns, reducing blame, and strengthening relationships among family members affected by substance use.
What is family counselling?
This Canadian law was designed to reduce fear of arrest and encourage people to call 911 and stay with someone during an overdose.
What is the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act?
A client reports several months of change, continues attending supports, adjusts routines when challenges arise, and focuses on preventing relapse rather than initiating new strategies.
What is maintenance?
This diagnostic framework requires a persistent pattern of gambling behaviour that results in clinically significant impairment or distress within a twelve-month period.
What is the DSM-5 criteria for Gambling Disorder?
This is the most intensive and costly level of care, providing 24-hour medical oversight for individuals with substance use concerns alongside serious mental health conditions.
What is medically managed inpatient treatment for co-occurring disorders?
This principle supports continuing family counselling even when the individual with a substance use concern is not ready for treatment.
What is addiction as a family illness (or the family’s capacity to influence change)?
This mobile application is designed to reduce overdose risk by providing monitored support for people who use substances alone and can initiate emergency response if needed.
What is the DORS app?