REDUCING HARM ENHANCING HEALTH

Breakaway is a multifunctional substance use support agency that provides innovative harm reduction based services in Toronto. Our mission is to provide seamless, comprehensive, and effective harm reduction services, and a full range of addiction treatment services that are amenable to individuals' needs and goals. Our services are offered through community-based facilities with a focus on street and community outreach. 

At Breakaway Community Services we are dedicated to providing treatment that includes all aspects of our clients lives and situations. We have always operated on a non abstinence or ‘harm reduction’ approach, which forms the philosophical basis for all our work, in reducing harm and enhancing the health of our clients. We aim to reduce harm associated with the use of drugs and alcohol while exploring other alternatives for coping with life's challenges. In all we do, our services are guided by our clients own needs, goals, and relationship to substance use. 

Breakaway is a registered charitable organization. All our services are free and confidential.

About Our Charity

Family & Youth Team 

The Family and Youth Initiative is a non-residential program developed to meet the needs of youth, aged 12 to 25, and their family members and friends who are struggling with substance use concerns. Services offered are provided from a harm reduction approach in a supportive, non-judgmental manner.We offer professional support, both to the youth with substance use issues and to their parents or guardians affected by it. And in the opposite situation, we provide support for youth who are affected by parents or guardians with substance use challenges.

Our Harm Reduction Outreach Team

HRO provides counselling, needle distribution-exchange, and support groups. We serve people who are street-involved or in conflict with the law, seeking support concerning their drug use in a respectful, non-judgmental and compassionate way that respects the competency of clients to make decisions about their care.

Pieces to Pathways

P2P started as a conversation between Faith and Tim. The two of them recognized that there is a gap in adequate and appropriate substance use support services for queer and trans youth in Toronto. They hope to change this so that queer and trans youth get the support they want and have their experiences affirmed not denied.

P2P is a peer-led initiative creating Canada’s first substance use support program for LGBTTQQ2SIA youth 16 to 29 years old in Toronto. P2P is sponsored by Breakaway Addiction Services and funded by the Toronto Central LHIN ,Local Health Integration Network. Phase 1 of P2P from January to March 2015 involved conducting a needs assessment of substance use among LGBTTQQ2SIA youth 16-29 years old in Toronto. Phase 2 of P2P will be conducted from September 2015 until April 2016 and will involve initial program development and testing pilot groups.

Satellite Opiate Addiction Treatment

Satellite is an opiate treatment clinic and is located in Toronto’s downtown Parkdale area at 21 Strickland Ave., near Dufferin and Queen Street West. Satellite is an outpatient program and works from a harm reduction approach to treatment designed to reduce drug-related harm, without requiring the cessation of drug use. Our role is to support people who are addressing opiate use, by providing a safe and accessible space and a qualified professional staff to help clients set and achieve wellness goals.

Supportive Housing

The Supportive Housing program is available to individuals 16 and over who have problematic substance use and require stable housing.  The program is offered in partnership with Regeneration Community Services.

The Toronto Opiate Support Team

TOST operates in various locations throughout Toronto as an outreach team to engage with and advocate for people who are using opiates or replacement medications, and have little or no access to supportive services.

Through Ruff Times

The connection between people and pets is significant and sometimes one of the most important, fulfilling relationships in one’s life. Through Ruff Times aims to reduce barriers for people with pets who may experience poverty, homelessness, mental health and substance use, violent living conditions and/or any other self-identified challenges. We offer pet care options so that people do not need to make a “choice” between accessing supports or losing their animal companion. Along with our volunteer RUFF Sitter Team, we provide no cost, temporary pet care for up to 3 months.

Grief, Loss, and Wellness

Founded in January 2021, GLoW Initiative offers supports to frontline workers, community-facing management and coordinators, and community supporters who have been impacted by the trauma and overwhelming loss of the overdose crisis. 1-1 and group support is delivered by community members and practitioners, and is free of charge.

Year 1 (2021-2022) of the Initiative focuses on providing direct grief, loss and wellness supports to those on the frontlines (including peers and community members who are not formally employed in frontline positions). Year 2 (2022-2023) will expand the program to include capacity building supports, such as skill-building trainings and resources to support teams and communities to respond to grief and loss.