Support for substance use and recovery

Addiction treatment and counselling

The Addictions Program by the Native Women Shelter of Montreal provides addictions counselling, education, support and referrals, while promoting healthy lifestyles and healthy choices for First Nations, Inuit and Métis women.

The Individual Addiction Support by the Indigenous Health Centre of Tiohtià:ke helps First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals in meeting with a Certified Indigenous Addiction Prevention Specialist from the Onen’tó:kon Healing Lodge.

The ᐊᓐᓇᒋᐊᕐᕕᒃ/Annagiarvik House by Projets Autochtones du Québec provides a long-term transitional housing program for First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals who are actively working on alcohol addiction. Individuals must have completed a program in a detox center or commit to undertaking such a process before entering the ᐊᓐᓇᒋᐊᕐᕕᒃ/Annagiarvik House.

Harm reduction items and additional support

The Harm reduction program by the Indigenous Health Centre of Tiohtià:ke collects and distributes harm reduction items for safe injection, safe inhalation, as well as naloxone. Additionally, the STBBI Outreach Work program is dedicated to awareness-raising and education about sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs), with a focus on prevention and support. Harm reduction supplies, such as sexual health and substance use materials, are also distributed on site.

The Native Friendship Centre of Montreal’s Kaie:ri:nikawera:ke Day Centre is a central, accessible space where First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals experiencing homelessness can have access to harm reduction items, referral resources, support, and basic amenities. Additionally, they offer mobile interventions with the Ka’wàhse Street Patrol, which provides harm reduction supplies, information, support and referral services to community members experiencing homelessness.

The Managed Alcohol Program (MAP house) by Projets Autochtones du Québec provides housing with a Managed Alcohol Program for 8 Indigenous men experiencing homelessness and living with severe alcohol addiction.

The Indigenous Support Workers Project’s Indigenous Health Navigators program offers accompaniments to health related services and access to harm reduction items to First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals aged 18 or over. Additionally, their Peer Street Crew distributes harm reduction items and offers listening and support to community members in the Plateau-Mont-Royal area.

Résilience Montréal’s Day Centre is a low threshold day centre for Indigenous individuals experiencing homelessness around the Cabot Square area, with access to harm reduction items. The use of cannabis and alcohol is permitted on the premises.

Plein Milieu’s Street Workers offer addiction support, referrals and accompaniment, and distribute harm reduction items to Indigenous individuals in the Plateau-Mont-Royal area.

Doctors of the World’s Indigenous Health Navigation – Uitshieu / Ikayuktu program is a team of Indigenous navigators collaborating with nurses to provide ad hoc nursing services, advice, and harm reduction materials to Indigenous individuals.

The Roundhouse Program by L’Itinéraire offers paid shifts to Indigenous individuals. People can have access to harm reduction items whether they are participating in the program or not. Workers from various organizations are often on site and can offer additional support and resources.

The Indigenous women program – On the road to wellness by the Women’s Centre of Montreal aims to support and guide Indigenous women towards their wellbeing, and include access to harm reduction items.

The Navigation services by Open Door Montreal offer First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals accompaniment and follow-up with their appointments, as well as access to harm reduction items.

More resources

Looking for more resources to help you in your journey? 

Consult the INDex, an online directory that provides essential information on programs that are free and entirely dedicated to Indigenous people in Tiohtià:ke.

INDex