Reducing Service and Substance Use Among Frequent Service Users: A Brief Report From the Toronto Community Addictions Team

The Toronto Community Addictions Team (TCAT) is an intensive case management intervention designed to serve people with addictions who are frequent service users, thus addressing a health system priority. Questionnaires given to 65 participants at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months and semi-structured interviews of 10 program participants explored participants’ outcomes and experiences with the program. Qualitative findings, analyzed using thematic content analysis, suggest that participants value the program's commitment to harm reduction, financial trusteeship, and recovery orientation. Quantitative findings from paired t-tests reveal that participants improved in community functioning and decreased days of problematic substance use and money spent on alcohol and drugs as early as 3 months after program participation. Future research should used a controlled design and explore predictors of positive outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Publication Date: 
2013
Pages: 
532–538
Volume: 
48
Issue: 
7
Journal Name: 
Substance Use & Misuse