title: Reducing service and substance use among frequent service users: a brief report from the Toronto Community Addictions Team.
abstract: 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.
authors: St Michaels Hospital, Centre for Research on Inner City Health, 209 Victoria, 3rd floor , Toronto, ON , Canada.
authors: Jenna van
authors: Jv
authors: Draanen
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Corneau
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Henderson
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Quastel
authors: Robin
authors: R
authors: Griller
authors: Vicky
authors: V
authors: Stergiopoulos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D019090:Case Management; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires