Specialized addictions care

As part of the No One Left Behind campaign, we are proud to highlight some of the ways CAMH is providing leadership in addictions by delivering evidence-based treatments, and inspiring hope through innovative research.

What is COMPASS?

Concurrent Outpatient Medical & Psychosocial Addiction Support Services (COMPASS) is an outpatient service specializing in evidence–based, medical and psychosocial interventions for CAMH patients substance use and concurrent disorder concerns. COMPASS sees over 4,400 unique patients per year. The clinic provides patient-focused care, meeting people where they are at with respect to their goals. COMPASS offers treatment for all substances with medical treatments that include anti-craving medications and medical treatment to support withdrawal. There are also therapy treatments available through group programming. The multidisciplinary team works together to provide care plans that include programming at CAMH and with partners in the community.

What is the impact of COMPASS at CAMH and beyond?

Since COMPASS increased availability for RAAM assessments from three days a week to five days a week in January 2022, the RAAM Clinic has seen an average of 15 patients per week for unscheduled, urgent addictions assessment. COMPASS has also received a significant grant from Health Canada to provide Virtual Integrated Collaborative Care (VICC) to patients with severe opioid use disorder using Technology Enabled Collaborative Care (TECC). This two-year project will break down barriers to care using technology-based interventions and enable the development of a scalable model of treatment for opioid use disorder that can be utilized by mental health professionals beyond CAMH.