In a news release issued today, the Sault Ste Marie and Area Drug Strategy Committee assured the community that despite the current provincial lockdown, area providers are continuing programs and services to assist those living with substance issues.
Some changes to service delivery have been necessary, however.
The following is a list of programs and services currently available in the region:
• Rapid Access Addiction Medicine Clinic (RAAM) - Accepting referrals through health care providers or self-referral. Please call 705-759-3434 ext. 7200 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. Clinic hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday.
• Addiction Treatment Clinic (ATC) - 123 East St. Accepting self-referrals by telephone from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 705-759-6684. There is the option of telephone or in person appointments.
• Withdrawal Management Services (Detox) - Call 705-759-3434 ext. 4147 24 hours a day
• Algoma Public Health - Addiction assessment, counselling and housing services: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Open for referral. At this time, all services provided by phone or electronic means. For services, please contact 705-942-4646 ext. 3148.
• Needle Exchange/Harm Reduction - 11 a.m to 2 p.m Monday to Friday at 386 Queen St. or drop in to Algoma Public Health at 294 Willow from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday
• Mege Zee Wuhsiswun - The Mege Zee Wuhsiswun Mental Health and Addictions Team at the Garden River Wellness Centre is still providing services for both children and adults Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m. Services provided are currently mostly virtual but there are some exceptions based on the situation. Our building is currently closed to the public, but anyone with questions/requests for services can call our intake worker at 705-946-5710 ext. 245.
• Maamwesying Addictions Services will remain open, with safe COVID protocols in place for accessing services. We are located at 123 March St. Suite 503. Open Monday 9:30 a.m to 5 p.m, Tuesday to Thursday 8:30 a.m to 4 p.m. Accepting new intakes. No wait list. Please call 705-945-4677 or our Central intake line at 1-844-864-0523.
• Batchewana First Nation Health Centre - Non Dway Gamig: We provide community wellness support, mental health and addictions, and youth wellness supports during COVID for Batchewana band members. Call 705-254-7827
• Recovery North - Now open! Accepting new intakes. No wait list. Same-day appointment. 673 Queen St. East. 705-254-3003.
• Algoma Family Services - Alternatives for Youth - The AFY youth addictions program 14-25. Services are currently available Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and we encourage youth whom require support to reach out to one of our counsellors at 705-945-5050 ext. 2409 or 2200.
• A New Link - Open and continues offer a support group Mondays from 1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. Childcare and transportation is provided for that day. Individual counselling is available virtually, by phone or in person with social distancing requirements. Offering drug and alcohol assessments. Clients will be screened over the phone prior to coming to A New Link or at the front door before coming into the building. Clients will be required to sanitize their hands upon entry. Our educational groups are currently on hold and will be offered in the future. Our hours are Monday to Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Location is 126 Queen St. E. Contact: 705-946-0920 or send a message through Facebook messenger (anewlink Bretonhouse)
• Ontario Aboriginal HIV AIDS Strategy (OAHAS) - OAHAS will be in Jamestown on Tuesdays between 2 and 3 p.m. for outreach and harm reduction supplies and Thursdays we are available for deliveries as needed. Contact us by phone at 1-800-743-8851 ext. 118 and 113.
• Indian Friendship Centre - Available for harm reduction supports and Alcohol and Drug Prevention Program. Call 705-542-8772 or join the Indian Friendship Centre SSM Facebook page for more information.
• Canadian Mental Health Association – Central access information and referral program will continue to receive calls which will be answered Monday to Friday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Call 705-759-5989, 1-855-366-1466 or email [email protected]
• John Howard Society of Sault Ste Marie - Office is closed to the public until further notice in compliance with the COIVD-19 lockdown and provincial stay-at-home order. We are continuing to provide all services to clients remotely via phone and video. Outreach and Housing team staff continue to provide community support only where essential with increased precautions and reduced contacts. Clients needing assistance can call 705-759-1703 to be connected with staff. Clients at the Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre can call 1-855-759-1703 to speak with a discharge planner. Our hours of operation are Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Sault Ste Marie Housing - Still operating during the Stay At Home Order, although we are minimizing our contacts within the community to essential only. Our shelter system is still up and running, following all guidelines implemented by the province. Overflow is still set up for when we reach max capacity, as well as our isolation sites when needed. If anyone needs shelter services they can call the shelter directly: Youth, women and families – Pauline’s Place 705-759-4663; Men – Vincent’s Place 705-253-2770
• Sault Area Hospital Sexual Assault Care Centre/Partner Assault Clinic - Medical service availability: Sault Area Hospital’s Sexual Assault and Partner Assault medical services remain open to victims/survivors of sexual assault and/or domestic violence. There are no changes to service delivery at this time. If you have been sexually assaulted within the past 12 days you can present to the hospital’s Emergency Department for medical care. A Sexual Assault/Partner Assault nurse is available 24 hours, seven days a week. All persons presenting to the hospital will be screened for COVID-19 prior to receiving care. You can call our office 705 759-5143 during office hours if you have any questions. Counselling service availability: Sexual assault counselling services are available by telephone appointment and can be accessed by contacting our office during business hours, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 705-759-5143.
• ADSB School Mental Health Counselling and Attendance Team - Although there have been several provincially mandated changes to how schools are operated across the province, our school-based mental health services at Algoma District School Board continue to be open and available for all students and caregivers requiring counselling services. These services are easily accessible by making a quick call to the student’s home school or by using EDSBY (our ADSB email platform). Our school and attendance counsellors are able to connect with the student virtually using secure video technology or audio-only if preferred. In-person services remain available where students are physically present at school and where safe to do so.
• Huron Superior Catholic School Board - our schools are open and students are being educated in person and virtually based on the wishes of the students and their families. Our mental health services are available to all students and families, virtual or in person at the student’s school. To access these, parents can simply call the student’s school and request a conversation with their student’s teacher or principal to make their needs known and be put in contact with a member of the mental health team.
• Group Health and Merrett’s IDA will continue to operate at our usual hours. We offer curbside pick-up at both locations.
Food assistance:
• The Indian Friendship Centre is providing food support on Tuesdays and Fridays, hot lunches on Tuesdays and grocery bags on Thursdays. Paul Gouge at Reaching Home can be reached at 705-256-5634.
• Club 84/Hope House is currently closed but is offering registered members of the program an opportunity to pick up pre-ordered meals Monday to Friday between 12 and 1 p.m. Meals for registered members can be ordered by calling 705-942-9561.
Online resources:
• Canadian Mental Health Association - this resource provides direction to online apps to support social connection, mental health, and addictions
• In the Rooms - an online addictions recovery community
• Connex Ontario - Addiction, Mental Health and Problem Gambling Treatment Services
• Mind Your Mind - A program of Connex Ontario for youth struggling with substance use
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
• CACCF Virtual Addiction Counselling
• Wellness Together Canada is a new site from the Government of Canada that offers support to those coping with mental health and addiction issues
