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2021 Impact Report

  • On track to support over 215 callers on our Free Live Support Phone Line in 2021
  • On track to receive over 200 requests for our P2P Support Program (8 hours of support per request) in 2021
  • On track to support over 250 caregivers through our Online Support Groups in 2021
  • FAR is part of the Working Group established by Toronto Public Health to develop a Toronto model for the decriminalization of drug possession for personal use 
  • FAR is part of a working group of META:PHI and AMHO developing Residential Treatment Guidelines for Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT)
  • FAR presented a poster on “Evidence-informed approaches for supporting family caregivers of persons with SUD” at the Issues of Substance conference by the CCSA on November 23, 2021
  • FAR presented a workshop at the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine (CSAM) Conference on October 23rd, 2021 on “How, when and under what circumstances should family members be included in discussions of capacity and consent; a dialogue with families about their inclusion of care”
  • FAR presented on ‘Addressing stigma through clinical judgment: Strategies for working with families’ at the META:PHI Conference 2021
  • FAR presented ‘Addiction: A Family Disease’ for the Canadian Nurses Association Progress in Practice Webinar Series
  • FAR co-presented a webinar on ‘Consent and the Mental Health Act‘ at the Caring for the Caregiver Conference on October 16th, 2021
  • FAR obtained the Proclamation of Sept. 30, 2021 as Recovery Day Toronto from Mayor Tory and co-hosted a special Recovery Day Toronto Edition of the Hard Knox Talks Podcast featuring people in recovery and family members
  • FAR co-presented two webinars for the Ontario Caregiver Organization in August and September on ‘Health Law: A primer for family caregivers in the mental health and addictions sector – Part 1 and 2’
  • On August 31, 2021 FAR attended the proclamation of International Overdose Awareness Day at Toronto City Hall and helped organize a candlelight vigil at the CN Tower in the evening
  • FAR’s Executive Director was interviewed on the Albertus Project Podcast about what needs to happen to improve outcomes for those struggling with addiction and what others can do to support affected families
  • FAR and Moms Stop the Harm discussed drug policy reform, harm reduction and protective health laws on the June 18th episode of the Hard Knox Talks Podcast
  • FAR’s Executive Director was interviewed by Kelly Cutrara of Global News Radio 640 to discuss the decriminalization of drug possession in Canada
  • Louise Lemieux White, Co-Founder of FAR and Registered Nurse, submitted a resolution to the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) AGM which was passed on June 25th supporting the decriminalization of the possession of illegal drugs for personal use
  • FAR members were twice featured as guests on the Victory Speaks Wellness Series Podcast with Host Nicole Waldron to discuss the journey of families affected by mental health and addiction (second podcast here)
  • FAR Executive Director was quoted in a Hill Times article featuring Senator Gwen Boniface’s Bill S-229 ‘Health-Centred Approach to Substance Use Act’ 
  • At a meeting of Toronto’s Board of Health on June 14th, FAR requested an amendment to the Board recommendations to the federal Minister of Health to clarify that decriminalization of drugs should occur at the national level and not on a city-by-city basis, which was unfortunately denied
  • In June FAR presented to social workers with the Toronto Catholic District School Board on the impact of addiction on families
  • At the 2019 Annual Conference for the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine (CSAM) FAR’s Executive Director gave a presentation asking CSAM to support the decriminalization of drug possession for personal use. Since then, she became a member of CSAM’s Policy Committee and is pleased to be a co-author of their just published ‘Policy Brief: CSAM in Support of the Decriminalization of Drug Use and Possession for Personal Use‘
  • FAR requested Toronto City Councillors make or support a motion for Toronto City Council to request that the federal government decriminalize drug possession for personal use in Canada or at least in the City of Toronto
  • FAR requested that the federal government mandate information and warning labels on alcohol products in Canada to inform and protect consumers and the Canadian public. Our request was endorsed by 20 experts and organizations.
  • At the request of the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) and as part of their work to build a curriculum on opioids and substance use disorder for the medical profession, FAR arranged for 14 family members of persons with SUD to participate in two family focus groups to inform the medical community on areas of the curriculum of importance to families
  • FAR’s support services were recently featured in The Family Voice, CAMH’s newsletter for families
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