Dr. Brian Rush PhD

September 14th 10:50am-12:30pm Clipper Room

Abstract: Recovery has long been a key concept in both the addiction and mental health sectors. But does the concept of recovery in addictions mean the same thing as in the mental health field?

Recovery in both sectors has its roots in the advocacy of people with lived experience and their families, and includes a focus on hope in the face of stigma, self-determination, transformation, and the many dimensions of life (such as adequate housing, meanginul activities and connections, and freedom from discrimination).

While there are differing opinions in the addiction field as to whether abstinence is in fact a necessary condition for recovery, cure is generally not thought to be necessary for mental health recovery. This presentation will explore the implications of these convergences and divergences for the development of a shared vision for addiction and mental health recovery

Objectives:

1. To understand what the convergences between the recovery concept in the addiction and mental health sectors are, and how these convergences came about.
2. To understand where the recovery concept in the addiction and mental health sectors diverge, and why.
3. To explore – in both small and large group discussions – the implications of these convergences and divergences for the development of a shared vision for addiction and mental health recovery.

References: Davidson, L. & White, W. J (2007). The Concept of Recovery as an Organizing Principle for Integrating Mental Health and Addiction Services. Behav Health Serv Res (2007) 34: 109-120, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-007-9053-7
Mulvale, G. & Bartram, M. (2015). No More “Us” and “Them”: Integrating Recovery and Well-Being into a Conceptual Model for Mental Health Policy. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 34:31-67, https://doi.org/10.7870/cjcmh-2015-010
McQuaid, R., Jesseman, R., & Rush, B.R. (in press). Examining Barriers as Risk Factors for Relapse: A Focus on the Canadian Treatment and Recovery System of Care. Canadian Journal on Addiction.
Jacobson, N., & Greenley, D. (2001). What Is Recovery? A Conceptual Model and Explication. Psychiatric Services, 52(4), 482–485. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.52.4.482

Bio:

Brian worked for over 38 years as a substance use/mental health researcher with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and retired to focus on a private consulting practice in 2013. He retains an honorary appointment in CAMH as Scientist Emeritus and is a Full Professor at the University of Toronto in both the Departments of Psychiatry and Public Health Sciences where he is still very active in graduate student supervision.

His work spans population health, needs-based planning, and evaluations of mental health and addictions treatment programs and treatment systems. Brian has led major research syntheses concerning treatment interventions and service and sector-level integration and collaborative care; developed provincial and regional performance measurement frameworks, including process and outcome monitoring for alcohol and drug treatment; developed and validated evaluation tools and protocols including outcome monitoring measures and tools to assess client and family members’ satisfaction with services received, and the evaluation of implementation strategies vis-à-vis evidence-informed practice. He has conducted major system reviews in Ontario, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and, most recently, Manitoba – work which keeps him firmly grounded in the issues of the day and people’s lived experience with mental health and addiction challenges, including their experience accessing assistance services and supports.

Recovery Capital Conference – Toronto 

The Carlu
444 Yonge Street, 7^th floor
Toronto ON M5B2H4

Dr. Ray Baker

September 13th  Round Room

Abstract: Recovery coaching, the most important element in recovery oriented care requires a unique set of competencies delivered by trained paraprofessionals. This session will review required attitudes, knowledge and skills 

Objectives:

Describe the steps and stages of early recovery Discuss motivational Interviewing 

Demonstrate Recovery Mutual Support Group Facilitation techniques

Outline Behavioural problem solving Developing and negotiating a behavioural plan

Explain Boundary setting, dealing with counter transference and codependence, staying healthy as a care provider 

Describe ongoing supervision, oversight: support, accountability and clinical training for Recovery Coaches

References: CCAR, Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery, Recovery Coach Academy, Training of Trainers Manual
Reif, S., Braude, L., Lyman, D.R., Dougherty, R.H., Daniels, A.S., Ghose, S.S., Salim, O. & Delphin-Rittman, M.E. (2014). Peer recovery support for individuals with substance use disorders: Assessing the evidence, Psychiatric Services, 65, 853-861.
White, W. L. (2010). Non-clinical addiction recovery support services: History, rationale, models, potentials, and pitfalls. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 28, 256-272.
White, W. L. (2009). Peer-based addiction recovery support: History, theory, practice, and scientific evaluation. Chicago, IL: Great Lakes Addiction Technology Transfer Center and Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Mental Retardation Services.
http://www.williamwhitepapers.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Recovery-Coach-Blog-Image-from-CCAR.jpg

Bio:

Ray worked as a family doctor before he specialized in Addiction Medicine in 1986. At the University of British Columbia Medical School he developed and directed the Addiction Medicine curriculum from 1990-95. He wrote a chapter on Alcoholism for Conn’s Current Therapy. On behalf of the Railway Association of Canada he developed the medical rules for safety critical Canadian railway workers with substance use disorders. He serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Addictive Diseases. Recently Dr. Baker served on a national expert committee for the Canadian Centre of Substance Abuse designing and analyzing Canada’s national Life in Recovery Survey. He is in the process of researching and writing a book on recovery-oriented addiction medicine. He is a person in long-term recovery from addiction for 32 years. Ray and his life partner, Agnes have 2 adult children two one-year old twin grandchildren.

Recovery Capital Conference – Toronto 

The Carlu
444 Yonge Street, 7^th floor
Toronto ON M5B2H4

Dr. Larry Peltz

September 13th 10:50am-12:30pm Sky Room

Abstract: We all have habits, from the seemingly harmless or trivial to life threatening addictions. But how do they really work? And why are they are they so resistant to change? The simple answer is that our habits give us a sense of routine, predictability and even of who we are. Whether it is a habit of ingesting, behaving, reacting, thinking or relating, our actions have benefits and costs.

We might want to change our pattern because of its consequences or we might be afraid to do that since it has been an old friend who has given us reliable comfort however fleeting or unwholesome.

This workshop will present a brief model of identifying four categories or quadrants of experience—the pluses and minuses of maintaining vs. relinquishing a habit. Once this is understood, effecting change of the habit utilizing mindfulness practice and Buddhist psychology will be approached through lecture, discussion and experiential exercises.

You will also find this model compatible with any number of psychotherapeutic approaches including psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, parts and ego state work.

Objectives:

1. To understand the continuum from habit to addiction.
2. To explore a model which illustrates how habits both help and limit us.
3. To experience mindfulness practices as useful means toward understanding the inner workings of a habit and assessing a client’s readiness for change.

References:

• The Mindfulness Solution –Ronald Siegel
• Let Go –Martine Batchelor
• The Craving Mind–Judson Brewer
• The Mindful Path to Addiction Recovery–Lawrence Peltz

Bio: Larry Peltz is an addiction psychiatrist and medical director of the Bournewood-Caulfield Partial Hospitalization Program in Woburn, Massachusetts since 1998. He has been on the clinical faculty of Harvard Medical School and Boston University School of Medicine. Dr. Peltz trained as a mindfulness teacher at University of Massachusetts Medical Center and worked for two years in the UMass Prison Project. He has taught mindfulness approaches to addiction and psychiatric patients for the past twenty- five years and also utilizes parts work (voice dialogue, internal family systems) and hypnosis in psychotherapy. He is author of the book, “The Mindful Path to Addiction Recovery: a practical guide to regaining control over your life.” (Shambhala, 2013)

Recovery Capital Conference – Toronto 

The Carlu
444 Yonge Street, 7^th floor
Toronto ON M5B2H4

Gord Garner

September 13th 10:50am-12:30pm Round Room

Abstract:

How do you make the recovery community part of the broader community?

Currently, the barriers for building a recovery capital producing platform are stigma, and the silos between researchers, academics policy advisors and those with lived and living experience, as well as the lack of resources for recovery communities. As advocates, we seek to create a closed cycle of ongoing recovery capital by mining, defining and then utilizing what we know to better support recovery communities.

It is time to shift the conversation from those in recovery to the broader community. This presentation will outline the need for the recovery community to build a strong public presence and the need for national, provincial and regional partners to engage and support recovery communities, and their efforts to improve collaboration.

Building public recovery communities enables the substance use disorder community to work in partnership with researchers, academics, policy advisors and the broader public community. By creating a closed cycle communications platform, we can transform experience into knowledge and knowledge into actionable recovery capital.

Furthermore, addressing and eliminating stigma through public discussions about recovery will lead to the creation of public recovery communities. To aid this process, we are creating, for the first time, opportunities for direct engagement with academics, researchers, and policy advisors.

Garnering wide public support for the initiatives and actions that are developed as part of this cooperative work is key. Recovery involves everyone and families, employers, service clubs, faith based organization and civil servants – including politicians – need to be engaged in a dialogue. The general public plays a critical role in influencing the level of social change, and corresponding funding, they demand and to gain their support we must show the value of meaningful cross-engagement and collaboration.

This presentation will also include overviews of CCSA-published resources that aid the recovery community including the Finding Quality Addiction Care in Canada Guide, the Life in Recovery from Addiction in Canada Report, the Life in Recovery from Addiction in Canada Communications Toolkit, and the Moving Towards a Recovery-Oriented System of Care Resource.

Objectives:

1. Show the importance of publicly available peer services and recovery communities in building sustainable recovery models.

2. Demonstrate how stigma can prevent those with a substance use disorder from accessing recovery community organizations and highlight the importance of recovery allies in breaking down stigma, and providing new sources of recovery capital.

3. Drive engagement between the recovery community and the broader community, and normalize dialogue around recovery and substance use disorders.

Bio: Gord Garner has lived in addiction most of his life, being in recovery now for about 7 years. He worked as an addiction counselor from 2012 to 2016, where he now volunteers full time at CAPSA heading the All People All Pathways program. He has also been a chair and director of Ottawa’s Recovery Day for the past 3 years.

Recovery Capital Conference – Toronto 

The Carlu
444 Yonge Street, 7^th floor
Toronto ON M5B2H4

September 13th 10:50am- 12:30pm Round Room

Rebecca Jesseman, Director of Policy with the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction.

Abstract:

How do you make the recovery community part of the broader community?

Currently, the barriers for building a recovery capital producing platform are stigma, and the silos between researchers, academics policy advisors and those with lived and living experience, as well as the lack of resources for recovery communities. As advocates, we seek to create a closed cycle of ongoing recovery capital by mining, defining and then utilizing what we know to better support recovery communities.

It is time to shift the conversation from those in recovery to the broader community. This presentation will outline the need for the recovery community to build a strong public presence and the need for national, provincial and regional partners to engage and support recovery communities, and their efforts to improve collaboration.

Building public recovery communities enables the substance use disorder community to work in partnership with researchers, academics, policy advisors and the broader public community. By creating a closed cycle communications platform, we can transform experience into knowledge and knowledge into actionable recovery capital.

Furthermore, addressing and eliminating stigma through public discussions about recovery will lead to the creation of public recovery communities. To aid this process, we are creating, for the first time, opportunities for direct engagement with academics, researchers, and policy advisors.

Garnering wide public support for the initiatives and actions that are developed as part of this cooperative work is key. Recovery involves everyone and families, employers, service clubs, faith based organization and civil servants – including politicians – need to be engaged in a dialogue. The general public plays a critical role in influencing the level of social change, and corresponding funding, they demand and to gain their support we must show the value of meaningful cross-engagement and collaboration.

This presentation will also include overviews of CCSA-published resources that aid the recovery community including the Finding Quality Addiction Care in Canada Guide, the Life in Recovery from Addiction in Canada Report, the Life in Recovery from Addiction in Canada Communications Toolkit, and the Moving Towards a Recovery-Oriented System of Care Resource.

Learning Objectives:

1. Show the importance of publicly available peer services and recovery communities in building sustainable recovery models.

2. Demonstrate how stigma can prevent those with a substance use disorder from accessing recovery community organizations and highlight the importance of recovery allies in breaking down stigma, and providing new sources of recovery capital.

3. Drive engagement between the recovery community and the broader community, and normalize dialogue around recovery and substance use disorders.

References:

As well as CCSA research we used these resources

The Community as the Patient: How to Promote Community Recovery

Bio:

Rebecca Jesseman is the Director of Policy with the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. A respected and recognized expert on cannabis policy, for over a decade she has provided trusted counsel, and expert commentary and presentations at the national and international levels. Rebecca is currently examining alternative mechanisms for the regulation of controlled substances with an emphasis on a public health approach. Before joining CCSA in 2006, Rebecca worked for Public Safety Canada and Health Canada. She holds a master’s degree in criminology from the University of Ottawa, where she has also taught as a sessional lecturer.

Recovery Capital Conference – Toronto 

Andrew Freedman, Colorado’s First Director of Marijuana

September 14th 1:30-3:00 pm Round Room

Abstract: Over the past decades, North America has been torn apart by diametrically opposed and deeply held beliefs about cannabis. To some it inspires love, medicates the sick, and promotes wellbeing.

To others it is a limitless font of crime, addiction, and social unrest. Through the last half of the 20th century we witnessed two Beatles’ arrests for possession of hashish, an Olympian stripped of his Gold medal, and a grisly Mexican drug war. Voters became tired of the War on Drugs, and the new millennium brought a wave of populist-led legalization efforts.

Evaluating the success of these legalization efforts has been almost as divisive as legalization itself, with some claiming that the sky has fallen and others claiming only upside. Freedman understands something that few else can. The cannabis legalization experiment cannot be easily shoehorned into a simple narrative. He knows that its short-term successes and shortcomings do not definitively answer the “Should we legalize?” question.

He knows that we can’t yet conclude whether legalization will be good or bad for society. Informed by his unique experience, Freedman’s conclusions are much richer than the doom-and-gloom pronouncements of prohibitionists or the panaceas presented by proponents. How you legalize matters. Getting legalization right matters.

Alone among policy experts, Freedman is able to offer a nuanced evaluation of the history-making experiment – and how it will profoundly impact the world for generations to come.

Join Freedman as he provides a tempered view of what we currently know about the effects of legalization. Freedman will then lead a dialog about how best to engage your community on this divisive topic going forward.

References:

1. Lessons and approaches to engaging the community.

2. An agenda-free look at current data and how best to collect data going forward.

3. Preparing the public health community to engage in the future policies of legalization.

Learning Objectives: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1500043; https://cdpsdocs.state.co.us/ors/docs/reports/2016-SB13-283-Rpt.pdf; https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2017.303848; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/add.13886

Bio:

Andrew Freedman is Co-founder and Senior Director of Freedman & Koski, Inc. Andrew’s first-in-the-nation consulting firm works with government, research institutions, communities and private businesses to get cannabis legalization right. Andrew brings vast experience from his three years as the State of Colorado’s first Director of Marijuana Coordination. During this time, he developed distinctive experience effectively implementing voter-mandated legalized recreational and medical marijuana while protecting public health, maintaining public safety, and keeping marijuana out of the hands of children.

Recovery Capital Conference – Toronto 

The Carlu
444 Yonge Street, 7^th floor
Toronto ON M5B2H4

Dr. Jag Khalsa

September 14th 10:50am-12:30pm Round Room

Abstract: Cannabis remains the most illicit drug used in the world today with an estimated 180 million using it regularly. Cannabis use is associated with a wide range of adverse psychosocial and medical/health consequences, the latter involving almost all the physiological systems in the body including CNS, cardiovascular, pulmonary/respiratory, and others.

On the other hand, due to the fact that cannabis plant has 500+ chemical constituents of which 104 are cannabinoids some of which have a great potential as medicine. This presentation will discuss the latest research available on two important aspects of cannabis- adverse health effects and its medicinal properties. In addition, this presentation will discuss various management strategies, recent findings from published and on-going research, and funding mechanisms available at NIDA/NIH

Learning Objectives: (1) The nature and extent of health/medical consequences of cannabis; (2) medicinal properties of cannabis/cannabinoids; (3) Funding mechanisms available at NIDA/NIH

References: (1). WHO Management of Substance Abuse: Cannabis, Joint United Nations Program on AIDS. AIDS Epidemic Update, 2015 (http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/cannabis_report/en/).
(2) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2016). 2016 National Survey on Drug Abuse and Health, Office of Applied Studies, Rockville, MD. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DetTabs-2016/NSDUH-DetTabs-2016.pdf

Bio:

Currently Dr. Jag Khalsa is a Special Volunteer at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH. With 50+ years of experience in all aspects of drug research including basic, regulatory and clinical research, he served as the Chief of the Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse and Co-occurring infections Branch, Division of Therapeutics and Medical Consequences, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, DHHS.  He received his Ph.D. in neuro-psycho-pharmacology from the University of Mississippi and postdoctoral training in CNS/Cardiovascular pharmacology at SK&F (now GlaxoSmith Kline), and Toxicology at the Stanford Research Institute.

As the Chief of MCB, he was responsible for developing and administering a national and international program of clinical research on medical and health consequences of drug abuse and co-occurring infections (HIV, HCV, TB, STD, and others) that may include all biochemical and physiological systems. Prior to joining NIDA in 1987, he served for about 10 years as a pharmacologist/toxicologist assessing safety including carcinogenic and teratogenic potential of chemicals [new drugs-INDs and NDAs] and food additives) and clinical evaluator (adverse consequences of drugs) at the US Food & Drug Administration.

He has several publications in the field of pharmacology, toxicology, epidemiology and medicine. He has received numerous awards of meritorious/distinguished service including from the FDA Commissioner, Director of Bureau of Foods, FDA, NIDA Directors, NIH Director, Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology, Life Time Achievement Awards from the International Conference on Molecular Medicine, Neuroimmune Pharmacology and Personalized-Nanomedicine, and a commendation from the US Congressman Cummings.

Dr. Khalsa also has degrees in Chemistry (BS), pharmacy (B.Pharm), pharmacology/pharmacognosy [herbal pharmacology], M.Pharm). Dr. Khalsa’s hobbies are: music and photography.

Recovery Capital Conference – Toronto 

The Carlu
444 Yonge Street, 7^th floor
Toronto ON M5B2H4

Dr. John Kelly

September 14th 8:30- 10:30am Ballroom

Abstract: The clinical course of addiction is often a chronic one characterized by several episodes of treatment and shorter periods of remission and relapse, before full sustained remission is achieved. Although the majority of individuals with substance use disorder achieve full sustained remission, it is noteworthy that it takes several years following the achievement of full sustained remission before the risk of meeting criteria for substance use disorder in the following year is no higher than the general population.

This indicates that ongoing recovery monitoring and management over the long-term may be required to facilitate long-term recovery. This talk highlights the chronic course of substance use disorder and reviews the interventions and recovery support services that have shown to be helpful in mobilizing and supporting remission as well as the mechanisms of behavior change through which they work.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the clinical course of addiction based on clinical scientific findings
2. Name three emerging recovery support services intended to extend and support recovery
3. Understand the empirical basis for shifts in language and terminology in the addiction field.

Bio:

Dr. Kelly is the Elizabeth R. Spallin Associate Professor of Psychiatry in Addiction Medicine at Harvard Medical School-the first endowed professor in addiction medicine at Harvard. He is also the founder and Director of the Recovery Research Institute at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), the Program Director of the Addiction Recovery Management Service (ARMS) and the Associate Director of the Center for Addiction Medicine at MGH. Dr. Kelly is a former President of the American Psychological Association (APA) Society of Addiction Psychology and is also a Fellow of the APA and a diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology. He has served as a consultant to U.S. federal agencies and non-Federal institutions, and foreign governments. His clinical and research work has focused on addiction treatment and the recovery process, mechanisms of behavior change, and in reducing stigma and discrimination among individuals suffering from addiction.

Recovery Capital Conference – Toronto 

The Carlu
444 Yonge Street, 7^th floor
Toronto ON M5B2H4

Dr Julian M. Somers

September 14th 8:30am Ballroom

Abstract:

Abstract:

Many people receive addiction treatment only when their lives have become complicated by other challenges, including involvement with the law, loss of housing and employment, or mental illness. This talk examines research on the life trajectories of people who experience complex addictions. It also reviews evidence concerning interventions, and considers how the concept of recovery capital can explain why some interventions are more effective than others.

Over the past 10 years a series of studies in British Columbia have involved people experiencing complex addictions. This research has used a variety of methods: economic analyses; cohort studies; randomized controlled trials; qualitative interviews; and comparative outcome studies. Many of these studies have focused on integrated multi-agency interventions.

Taken together, the results show that people develop complex challenges over time and frequently seek help for their health and social problems. The results also show that mainstream resources in most communities have limited effectiveness for people with complex addictions, leading to greater problems in other domains and relocation to new places.

A variety of specialized programs have been developed for people with complex addictions including Drug Treatment Court, Housing First, Assertive Community Treatment, and Intensive Case Management. Evidence confirms that these programs can deliver better outcomes than the status quo on a wider range of outcomes: housing stability; crime reduction; community integration; improved health; etc. But the results also show that it’s possible to spend equivalent amounts of money of programs that yield significantly different results.

Differences between similarly-funded interventions can be explained by considering their effects on recovery capital: court outcomes are better when they provide health and social services; housing outcomes are better when people live in diverse neighbourhoods versus exclusively with others who were homeless; health outcomes are better when people have the authority to make decisions. There is an urgent need to replace ineffective services with effective ones, and to move the point of interventions upstream. This talk concludes with a focus on opportunities to achieve both objectives.

Learning Objectives:

• Increasing knowledge regarding the relationship between addiction and additional serious life challenges including conflict with the law, employment loss, and homelessness;
• Updating knowledge about the interventions that are most effective for promoting recovery among people with complex addictions;
• Promoting the use of “recovery capital” as a concept to differentiate effective and less effective interventions, even when they cost the same amount of money.

References:

Rezansoff SN, Moniruzzaman A, Fazel, S, Skeem J, McCandless L, Somers JM (2017). Housing First improves adherence to antipsychotic medication among formerly homeless adults with severe mental illness: results of a randomized controlled trial. Schizophrenia Bulletin. 43(4): 852-861. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbw136

Somers JM, Moniruzzaman A, Palepu A. (2015). Changes in substance use among people experiencing homelessness and mental illness: 24-month outcomes following randomization to Housing First or Usual Care. Addiction. DOI: 10.1111/add.13011.

Somers JM, Moniruzzaman A, Rezansoff SN, Brink J, Russolillo A. (2015). The prevalence and distribution of complex co-occurring disorders: a population study. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences. DOI: 10.1017/S2045796015000347.

Bio:

Dr. Julian Somers completed his clinical training at the University of Washington, Seattle’s Harbourview Hospital, and British Columbia’s Children’s Hospital. He was Director of the UBC Psychology Clinic and President of the BC Psychological Association.

Dr. Somers has led Provincial and multi-jurisdictional programs addressing public health crises involving addiction, physical and mental health, social welfare, public safety, and housing. He began his academic career in the UBC Faculty of Medicine, and is currently Full Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University.

The Somers Research Group is internationally recognized for public health initiatives with governmental, private, and not-for-profit collaborators. Dr. Somers has led large-scale applied randomized trials, multi-site interventions, and population-level studies described in over 100 publications. He has also created advanced information systems for public health surveillance and to evaluate the effectiveness of policies and services.

Members of the Somers Research Group have garnered numerous awards and distinctions for research in the public interest. Dr. Somers serves as an advisor to senior officials in government and corporate roles and is a frequent media contributor.

Speaker: Gord Garner September 13th 10:50am Round Room

Abstract:
“How do you make the recovery community part of the broader community?

Currently, the barriers for building a recovery capital producing platform are stigma, and the silos between researchers, academics policy advisors and those with lived and living experience, as well as the lack of resources for recovery communities. As advocates, we seek to create a closed cycle of ongoing recovery capital by mining, defining and then utilizing what we know to better support recovery communities.

It is time to shift the conversation from those in recovery to the broader community. This presentation will outline the need for the recovery community to build a strong public presence and the need for national, provincial and regional partners to engage and support recovery communities, and their efforts to improve collaboration.

Building public recovery communities enables the substance use disorder community to work in partnership with researchers, academics, policy advisors and the broader public community. By creating a closed cycle communications platform, we can transform experience into knowledge and knowledge into actionable recovery capital.

Furthermore, addressing and eliminating stigma through public discussions about recovery will lead to the creation of public recovery communities. To aid this process, we are creating, for the first time, opportunities for direct engagement with academics, researchers, and policy advisors.

Garnering wide public support for the initiatives and actions that are developed as part of this cooperative work is key. Recovery involves everyone and families, employers, service clubs, faith based organization and civil servants – including politicians – need to be engaged in a dialogue. The general public plays a critical role in influencing the level of social change, and corresponding funding, they demand and to gain their support we must show the value of meaningful cross-engagement and collaboration.

This presentation will also include overviews of CCSA-published resources that aid the recovery community including the Finding Quality Addiction Care in Canada Guide, the Life in Recovery from Addiction in Canada Report, the Life in Recovery from Addiction in Canada Communications Toolkit, and the Moving Towards a Recovery-Oriented System of Care Resource.”

Objectives:
“We believe collaboration turns knowledge into actionable initiatives, research, and policy initiatives. As joint presenters, we intend to show how removing barriers between academic, research, policy work and lived experience with substance use disorder can enrich the conversation and lead to meaningful change.

Our three learning objectives are as follows:

1. Show the importance of publicly available peer services and recovery communities in building sustainable recovery models.

2. Demonstrate how stigma can prevent those with a substance use disorder from accessing recovery community organizations and highlight the importance of recovery allies in breaking down stigma, and providing new sources of recovery capital.

3. Drive engagement between the recovery community and the broader community, and normalize dialogue around recovery and substance use disorders.”

References:

“As well as CCSA research we used these resources

The Community as the Patient: How to Promote Community Recovery

What is the Evidence for Peer Recovery Support Services?

http://www.williamwhitepapers.com/pr/CSAT%20Perspectices%20on%20Peer%20Recovery%20Support%20Services%202013.pdf
In addition as noted above we have used recent CCSA surveys and research articles
http://www.williamwhitepapers.com/pr/CSAT%20Peer%20Recovery%20Support%202005.pdf

https://www.recoveryanswers.org/research-post/how-effective-are-recovery-support-services-provided-by-other-people-in-recovery/”

Bio:

Gord Garner Recovery Capital Work
Volunteer Community Addictions Support Association 2014
Board member Community Addictions Peer Support Association (CAPSA) 2014-on going
Nominated and elected Chair Recovery Day Ottawa 2015-16-17 and new two year term 2018/19
Appointed Executive Director of CAPSA by the board 2017
Facilitator at CAPSA’s All People All Pathways peer support meetings
Canadian Certified Addiction Counselor
Public Speaker
Issues of Substance Conference 2017
Biennial Conference on Violence and Aggression 2018
Various speaking roles at “Conversations at The Royal “Ottawa Mental Health Centre”
Algonquin College Umbrella Project Guest Speaker
Carleton University guest lectures
Algonquin College guest lectures
Media appearances
CTV News
CBC Radio
Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Sun
Ottawa Life Magazine
CKCU FM
Various videos on social media
Recognitions
Named one of Ottawa’s #150 Great People
http://blog.catherineclark.ca/tag/gord-garner/
Recognized as one of #150 Ottawa Centre People Making a Difference
MPP Yasir Naqvi
Rita Notarandrea, M.H.Sc., C.H.E.​
Rita Notarandrea
Rita Notarandrea was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) through a Governor-in-Council appointment on July 28, 2015. Ms. Notarandrea works with all levels of government as well as the not-for-profit and private sectors to ensure that addiction is recognized as a health issue, that it remains on the national agenda for action and that collective efforts are galvanized to reduce alcohol- and drug-related harms on the health of Canadians.

Before being appointed CEO, Ms. Notarandrea held the position of interim CEO for a 10-month period, and that of Deputy CEO for eight years. As the Deputy CEO, Ms. Notarandrea was accountable for the overall operations of CCSA. This position entailed establishing strategic and operational goals and ensuring that CCSA remained responsive to environmental trends and had the strategies and processes in place to deliver on the mission and vision of the organization and to assess performance and achievements.

Under Ms. Notarandrea’s leadership, CCSA has led many first-ever national initiatives, including an overarching action plan on problematic substance use. During her tenure, CCSA has developed national strategies for mitigating the harms of alcohol, for professionals working in the field and for youth drug use prevention. These strategies represent new ways of thinking and working together to deliver practical and tangible results for Canadians, harnessing collective action for collective impact