New Windsor-Essex substance abuse program will serve the LGBTQ community
CBC
Organizers of new program hope to close a gap in local services when it comes to substance abuse in the LGBTQ community — a group organizers say has unique needs when it comes to recovery.
"This is a collaborative approach to filling a need in the community," said Colm Holmes, president of Windsor Pride Community (WPC).
"We realized that there was addiction services being offered but nothing that was offered was tailored specifically to the 2SLGBTQ+ community."
The One Team Recovery Program is an existing five-week outpatient substance abuse program. The specialized LGBTQ version of it will kick off in January.
It brings WPC together the Windsor Family Health Team and Family Services to put on the One Team Recovery Program.
"The 2SLGBTQ+ community faces social discrimination, face oppression," Holmes said.
"So when it comes to exploring addictions and substance abuse and our relations to our identities, it is important for us to have a part of the program that entails us exploring those aspects."
The program is a "non-abstinence based outpatient program," meaning participants will not be required to stop using substances altogether if they don't want to.
"It looks at abilities to look at tools and things that people can use when cravings exist, when relapse occurs, and really looking at the overall stigma that's associated with individuals that are looking to obtain straight abstinence and how we can work on ways to get there."
He said the LGBTQ community faces unique challenges, and it's important for the people in it to look at recovery through a lens that includes their identity.
"We know that in general when people are looking for a recovery journey being able to match with peers that have similar outcomes or are facing similar struggles is a really great benefit to anyone."
Each cohort in the program will be between 10 and 20 people. The program will run for five weeks, twice a week, for four-hour sessions. The program will run six times a year.
Margo Reilly, executive director of the Windsor Family Health Team, said the program could expand to other areas. There are other agencies who are already part of the One Team Recovery Program and want to get involved.
"I know that there is interest within Windsor-Essex," Reilly said.
This First Person column is the experience of Shannon Flaman, who lives in Red Deer, Alta. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
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