Treatment Services for Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Ontario and Quebec: A Comparison of Provincial Surveys

Abstract

As in most parts of the developed world, Canada has experienced a considerable expansion in specialized services for the treatment of alcohol and drug abuse since the 1960s. This paper contrasts the addiction treatment system within two of Canada's largest provinces — Ontario and Quebec. Within the limitations of descriptive survey data, some of the similarities and differences between these treatment networks during the mid-1980s are discussed. For example, the Quebec system was characterized by more private fee-for-service programs and larger facilities that provided a range of services along the continuum of care. In Ontario, there were more separate programs, but they tended to be smaller and more specialized within the treatment continuum. Quebec had a higher rate of participation in outpatient, day treatment and short-term residential programs.