Program & Services

Family and Youth Initiative
Harm Reduction Outreach Team
Satellite
Clear Directions

Family and Youth Initiative

Our program is a non-residential program, developed meet the needs of youth, aged 13 to 25, and their family members and friends who are struggling with substance use concerns. Services offered are provided from a harm reduction approach in a supportive, non judgmental manner. For referrals and information please call 416-234-1942. Our services include:

Assessment

We offer help in identifying your needs or goals around alcohol or substance use. Assessment can include the Eight Tools assessment required to facilitate referral to day or residential treatment programs.

Referrals

Help to locate other services or agencies that might be helpful.

Counselling

Harm reduction based individual and family counseling where you can find: information about drugs, someone to listen to you, assistance in getting connected to other programs, support in defining and achieving your goals.

Groups

We offer a variety of in-house groups which offer youth creative and unique ways to look at their substance use. Please call us for information on other groups being offered.

Parents Support Group

A one night a week, four week course that provides an opportunity to learn about: drugs and alcohol, adolescent behaviour, parenting styles, and communicating skills for negotiating with your teens. For more information click here

School, Parent Information Sessions

We offer presentations and workshops for educational, correctional, corporate, community, youth agencies and other interested organizations. If you’d like us to come and talk at your classroom or agency, please click here for our request form.

Adult Information Night

A one evening, two hour, seminar for parents and other adults who want to know more about substance abuse and its effects. Attend and gain an understanding of drugs, alcohol, and the ways they may affect the mind and body. We’ll talk about adolescent development and the factors that put some youth at a much higher risk to developing drug and alcohol problems than others. Learn the signs of drug use and what you can do to reduce the chances your teen will turn to drug or reduce the risk of dependency. Find out what parenting styles work and how to help your kids. For more information click here

Harm Reduction Outreach Team

Our team provides a variety of harm reduction and addiction services including individual counseling, groups, prison in-reach, distribution of safer-use supplies, street outreach, and auricular acupuncture.

Groups

Join In/Stay Out is an ongoing weekly support and discussion group for women who have experienced conflict with the law. The goal is to create an empowering and respectful space for women to give and receive support, share resources, and decrease isolation. Join In/Stay Out runs every Tuesday from 2:00 - 4:00 pm at 17 Phoebe Street. This group is facilitated in partnership with the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape and Breakaway. Transpeople are welcome, and the space is accessible. Lunch is provided. Women are welcome to drop in, or call Mella for more information @ 416 561-8819.

Individual Counseling

We offer individual counselling that focuses on substance use and related areas (trauma, oppression, support to deal with systems – legal, health, immigration, etc.). We use a harm reduction framework to support people, who use drugs, to live better according to the person’s own definition of better.

Counselling happens on an outreach basis. We can meet you in your local neighbourhood, park, downtown location, or at our office. Counselling can also include the distribution of free safer use, sex, and auricular acupuncture supplies. To connect with a counselor, please call Mella at 416-561-8819 or Bo Yih at 416-953-2227.

Distribution of safer-use supplies

Breakaway brings user friendly services to active substance users in the South Etobicoke area. The Outreach Team provides harm reduction outreach along the Lakeshore, from Mimico to Longbranch. The Outreach Worker and Peer Support Workers distribute un-used works, and collects used supplies. Currently, outreach is conducted Monday’s from 12pm until 4:30pm and Thursday’s from 3pm until 7pm.
The outreach team also partners with Women’s Habitat at 140 Islington Ave to provide a women’s only harm reduction drop–in space. The drop-in is open Monday’s from 6pm until 8pm.
Safer use supplies are also available at our Etobicoke location. For hours of operation, please call 416-234-1942.

Prison in-reach

The Harm Reduction Outreach Team visits Vanier Centre for Women on a weekly basis, and Grand Valley Institute intermittantly. We offer one-on-one counselling, as well as harm reduction focused support groups. If women in prison would like to connect with Breakaway, they may request counseling through the social worker on their unit or submit a written request to a corrections officer. We also offer support to women after they are released and living in the community should they choose to continue counselling.

Auricular acupuncture

We offer free auricular acupuncture which is acupuncture performed on the ears. Some benefits of auricular acupuncture are: reduced withdrawal symptoms (helps with aches, headaches, nausea, sweats, cramping, restlessness & cravings), reduced anxiety and/or depression, physical and emotional balance, and better sleep. If you are interested in more information, please click here

Satellite

Satellite Clinic is an urban based program located in downtown Toronto. Satellite is an outpatient program of Breakaway Addiction Services and works form a harm reduction model. Satellite’s role is to support people who are addressing opiate us e, by providing a safe and accessible space and a trained professional staff to help clients set and achieve wellness goals.

How Do I become a client?

Contact use by phone or in person if you are looking for help with opiates. (can we have I link to contact us?)
We will talk to you, within 24 hours; about your situation and help you determine is Satellite is the right fit.
If Satellite is the right fit then we will work with you to determine the best treatment for your needs.
We also have counselling only clients, for people you are seeking support around issues related to their use of opiates, who may or may not be on opiate replacement treatment.

What will I find at Satellite?

A friendly drop in space that offers food, internet access, activities, companionship and a safe place to relax in.
Well trained and dedicated staff, consisting of counselors, health care workers, doctor, nurse and admin staff.
A full range of addiction services including assessment, treatment planning, case management, therapy, referrals, and treatment reviews.
A non time limited program. You decided how long you want to be in treatment.
Confidential and private care.
An assurance that you will get best practice in the treatment of opiate use.

Opiate Treatment

Opiate replacement therapy started with methadone (methadonetoday.org) in the 1960,s in New York. Methadone has been labeled the grandfather of harm reduction and is supported by research as effective treatment for opiate users. We also use buprenorphine (Erowid.org), a new treatment for opiate dependence. Satellite uses the best practice model of opiate replacement with counseling and social support. Science has proven that offering this service model helps people develop wellness strategies, reduces risk of illness and promotes health recovery. Treatment Works!

Clear Directions

Clear Directions is a collaborative program that serves a maximum of 10 youths from the ages of 14 to 18 who live within the Greater Toronto Area and who are experiencing both mental health and substance use problems. Our program is designed to address issues that prevent achievement and to provide a secure educational environment in which to achieve.

Our multidisciplinary team provides ongoing clinical services including individual, family and group interventions. Our self-contained section 19 class provides an environment for students to develop their basic skills and recognize their areas of strength. For more information, please click here or call the Clear Directions Intake Worker, Anne at 416-234-1942 ext. 225.