Studies of various treatment programs for drug addicts and substance abusers indicate a high
percentage of participants either do not complete the treatment, or worse, will complete the treatment and revert back to substance abuse soon after. This has often been linked to the environment the participants find themselves in during treatment and following its completion. Substance abusers are likely to be surrounded by an environment of other abusers and drugs, which is thought to perpetuate the addiction itself, make it more difficult to be successful in treatment, and can revert the patient back to drug use after successful treatment.
To address this specific issue, a pool of non-addict “buddies” can be utilized to provide a support network for addicts undergoing treatment or who have recently completed treatment. These buddies will be trained volunteers to provide addicts with a relationship structure other than the addictive environment they may be used to or find themselves in during or post treatment. The organization will operate a center in the DTES to provide a location where participants can meet with their specific buddy or meet with other buddies in an open drop in format. The goal is to provide an open, accepting, and supportive environment where patients can find a friendship network that counters their often-addictive environment.
Organized as a non-profit, it will be responsible for recruiting, adequately training, and matching volunteers to perform this role. This organization will be partnered with the bodies in the DTES that provide the various addiction treatment programs and networks, such as Vancouver Coastal Health, in order to properly match patients with buddies. Paid staff at this non-profit will include the management and executive who will be responsible for overall organization, volunteer recruitment, marketing, and sequestering funding.
Assessing the transformative potential will rely on information from the partners administering treatment to indicate the number of patients both maintaining their treatment and remaining drug free after treatment, as well as input from volunteers and participants. The success of this organization will depend upon the active participation of addicts in treatment programs. This non-profit is limited in the fact that we are not proving addiction treatment or an alternative to treatment. This is meant to provide a complement and support to a viable addiction treatment program offered by a qualified body. This limits this organization from providing fundamental change on its own, and increases its dependence on its partners, volunteers, supporters and funders.
The transformative goal is to change the way patients think about their ability to succeed in and after treatment programs, and empower them to change their own lives by providing them with supportive relationships.
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