AADAC's Approach to Treatment

AADAC (the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission) and its Funded Agencies offer a range of treatment services, including:

• Detoxification and shelter.
• Assessment and referral.
• Individual, family, and group counselling.
• Day and residential treatment.
• Specialized services for adolescents, Aboriginal people, and women.

AADAC has been treating people with alcohol and other drug problems since its beginning as the Alcoholism Foundation of Alberta in 1951. Our approach to treatment depends on the needs of our clients

All of AADAC's treatment programs and services.

Clients seeking help

Our goal in providing treatment is to ensure that each person receives the treatment that best suits their needs. Over the years, we’ve learned a thing or two about the clients we serve. We’ve learned is that each person who comes to AADAC for treatment is different and has "their own story." Some people are just beginning to have problems because of their drinking, drug use, or gambling; some are having very serious problems. Other people come to AADAC because someone they love is having problems and they want information. Each person has different problems and different needs.

Assessment

Every person who comes to AADAC for treatment participates in an assessment. This assessment is a series of questions about the person’s alcohol, drug use, and gambling, and establishes how that use is negatively affecting other parts of the person’s life, such as work, family, and leisure activities.

Matching

The results of the assessment help AADAC counsellors and the client decide which kind of service would best suit the client’s needs and match the client to the appropriate kind of treatment. Abstinence is often the treatment goal but AADAC recognizes that not all clients will choose abstinence.

After assessment and discussion with their counsellor about treatment goals, the client is presented with some options for treatment and chooses from among them.

Among those clients who use alcohol or drugs, some may need detoxification before they enter treatment. Some clients may find that a visit to an AADAC or funded agency counsellor every week is sufficient while others will find that attending treatment in a day program is the right option. Some clients will need the kind of structure that only residential treatment can provide.

Treatment

To achieve their goals, clients may receive information sessions, one-to-one counselling, group counselling, and family counselling. AADAC clients are also introduced to and encouraged to attend a self-help group specific to their addiction. These self-help groups include 12-Step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. We encourage clients to maintain their membership in these self-help programs after they have completed their treatment programs.

We also work with clients to help them develop other skills, such as expressing anger in a healthy way. We encourage them to identify and use the strength and skills they already have.

Monitoring outcomes

AADAC is continually working to improve the services it provides Albertans. Careful outcome monitoring of our treatment services and keeping pace with research in the addictions field, means we can anticipate trends and work to fine tune our services. We’re always learning and willing to change if it means providing better services to our clients. What remains constant is our commitment to people and their ability to lead healthy, successful lives.

Whatever combination of services we offer a client, our basic approach to the treatment of addictions remains the same. In all of our treatment and prevention services, we focus on the person, not the drug. We respect and work with the client regardless of what stage of change they’re at. Participation in treatment at AADAC is voluntary and confidential. We believe this approach to addictions treatment does more than just protect clients from relapse; it promotes their overall health by increasing the ability they have to learn, grow, and manage their lives without relying on alcohol, other drugs, or gambling.