Alcohol and drug abuse problems affect 5% to 10% of employed people, interfering with work productivity and causing personal and family distress. Often, such problems continue and worsen for extended periods of time, in spite of the fact that the employee and others are aware that something is wrong. No one takes action until a crisis occurs at home or at work. The response of most employers to such crises is to assist the employee to seek substance abuse treatment, but this in itself can create problems.
Traditional treatment approaches assume that extensive intervention is needed, often requiring inpatient care. These approaches can be expensive, and disrupt the personal life and work life of the individual. The loss of an employee for an extended period of time also disrupts the workplace. Availability of treatment is limited and delays in entering treatment are not uncommon. Because treatment is expensive and disruptive, employees and employers tend to delay taking action. As is the case with most problems, these delays make substance abuse problems more difficult to resolve.
ACCESS IS DIFFERENT:
We believe that the progression of substance abuse problems for most people includes an early stage that can be addressed through short term interventions that are cost-effective, timely and non-disruptive to the individual and the organization. This belief is supported by recent research in the field.
We do not deny that intensive treatment is necessary for some people, but we think that by offering immediately available, less disruptive assistance, many individuals with early stage problems will be encouraged to seek help at a time when those problems can be more easily resolved.
Access provides a brief intervention program consisting of non-residential counselling. It is designed to assist individuals to understand and take control of their substance abuse problems. We help each person to apply existing life skills to these problems, and to learn new coping skills when necessary.
HOW WE WORK:
Assessment
We initiate the ACCESS process by completing an assessment with the individual to determine if our approach is suitable.
| Referral If ACCESS is not suitable we assist the individual to locate and contact a treatment program or to obtain medical care that can meet his or her needs. | Treatment For those people for whom ACCESS is a good choice, we enter into a counselling program encompassing education, problem identification and lifestyle change. |
OUR STANDARD OF
SERVICE:
ACCESS offers brief non-residential
counselling services tailored to the needs of each
individual. An experienced professional normally meets
with the person on six to eight occasions, with follow-up
contacts after six months and one year.
ACCESS can provide initial assessment
interviews within five working days. Counselling is
arranged to minimize disruption to the work schedules and
personal lives of individuals.
ACCESS is a completely private and
confidential service.
ACCESS is suitable for people whose alcohol
or drug use is interfering with their lives, but who do
not have histories of chronic drug abuse and multiple
treatment involvement.
ACCESS staff are trained and experienced
substance abuse counsellors.
ACCESS is a fee-for-service program offered
by Stillwater Consulting Ltd.. Call us at (905) 602-1553
fax (905) 629-1997 or 1-800-225-3250 to learn more about
service details and fee schedules.
© 1998, Stillwater Consulting Ltd.