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Substance Use & Concurrent Disorders Program Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre
1145 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 7K4
Ph: 613.722.6521, ext. 6508

Fast Facts

Signs of substance abuse include:

• Abrupt changes in work or school attendance, quality of work, work output, grades, or discipline;
• Unusual flare-ups or outbreaks of temper;
• Withdrawal from responsibility;
• General changes in overall attitude;
• Deterioration of physical appearance and grooming;
• Wearing of sunglasses at inappropriate times;
• Continual wearing of long-sleeved garments, particularly in hot weather or reluctance to wear short-sleeved clothing when appropriate;
• Association with known substance abusers;
• Unusual borrowing of money from friends, co-workers or parents;
• Stealing small items from an employer, home or school; and
• Secretive behavior regarding actions and possessions; poorly concealed attempts to avoid attention and suspicion such as frequent trips to storage rooms, restroom, basement, etc.

Substance Use & Concurrent Disorders

Admission Criteria

The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre's Substance Use & Concurrent Disorders Program provides treatment for adults with primary or complex substance use disorder who have typically failed in other attempts to overcome their dependence on chemicals and other mood-altering substances.

While accessible to anyone 16 years of age and older, the program is tailored to meet the needs of adults, so a 16 year-old may be redirected to other service providers specializing in the treatment of youth.

The Substance Use & Concurrent Disorders Program can be accessed by:

1. Self-referral; or
2. Referral from any of the following:
   • other Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre programs;
   • community physicians;
   • addiction assessment and referral agencies in the Champlain District;
   • scheduled and community hospitals and their outpatient clinics;
   • the Children's Aid Society;
   • outreach services;
   • community mental health and addiction agencies;
   • employee assistance programs; and
   • law enforcement agencies.

An assessment by one of the Program physicians is required for admission into services offered, with the exception of the school-based Early Intervention Program.  While a written referral noting the factors suggestive of a substance use disorder is helpful, patients may refer themselves for treatment without one.

All appointments for assessment must be booked in person at the Program Intake Office at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre at 1145 Carling Avenue.  Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  Out-of-town patients may book appointments over the phone by calling 613.722.6521, ext. 6508.

Patients are required to produce a valid OHIP card prior to receiving an appointment and those from outside Ontario must have pre-authorization from their provincial health ministry to be accepted into the program for treatment.

The Intake Secretary will provide information and schedule an appointment for the initial assessment by a program physician. 

Depending on the nature of their addiction, patients may require medically supervised withdrawal followed by a period of stabilization in the inpatient Assessment and Stabilization Unit (ASU).  Some patients may be successfully withdrawn from substances on an outpatient basis, provided they have adequate community support.

Admission to the Inpatient Assessment & Stabilization Unit (ASU)
The ASU is a 12-bed inpatient unit located at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre for assessment, medically supervised detoxification and stabilization.

The average length of stay on the ASU is about 25 days.  Patients who have a psychiatric or medical illness as well as a substance use disorder may require a longer period of stabilization before they are ready for the next stage of the recovery process.

Following assessment at the intake stage, patients are placed on a waiting list for treatment in the ASU.  The waiting period from initial assessment to admission varies, and approximately 3 to 4 people are admitted to the ASU each week.

Any patient who fails to show up for admission will be taken off the waiting list.  Admission time is 8:30 a.m. at the Admitting Department with a valid Ontario health card and any supplementary insurance documents in hand.

The ASU provides a safe, supportive and caring environment where clients can become substance-free and be evaluated for an appropriate treatment program following stabilization.