Investment from Marta & Owen Boris Foundation Helps Address Addiction in Young Adults
A $600,000 investment from the Marta & Owen Boris Foundation has launched a new Young Adult Substance Use Program (YA-SUP) that supports young adults struggling with substance use early on so they have the best chance possible of avoiding a lifetime of addiction.
Substance use experimentation often begins in the teens and peaks in young adulthood. While most grow out of risky behaviour, for some, it can become a lifelong battle. This is something the Boris Family knows too well. Marta and Owen’s youngest son, Peter, succumbed to alcohol addiction at just 41 years of age.
“We know firsthand how addiction can creep up on you,” says Jackie Work, speaking on behalf of the Boris Family. “While Peter had the support and the love of our family, we weren’t able to help him overcome his battle with alcohol. There simply wasn’t the body of knowledge or the services available to help him at that time. But we hope that with this gift, and the program it’s funding, we can change that outcome for other families like ours.”
In 2015, the Boris Family honoured Peter’s memory by establishing the Peter Boris Chair and the Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research at St. Joe’s. Their latest $600,000 gift aims to unravel the causes and best treatment options to help youth living with addiction. Augmented by funding from other donors and the Hospital, the donation will ensure hundreds of young adults have access to evidence-based treatment for substance use concerns.
“We have a small window of time at a pivotal point in young adults’ lives to intervene and develop healthy alternatives to substance use,” says Dr. James MacKillop, an international addictions expert, the Peter Boris Chairholder, and Director of the Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research. “Even using the current accepted practices, it’s imperative we listen to and learn from our patients to continuously improve the quality of the program and provide them with the very best chance of recovery. This new program is one more reason we’re deeply grateful to the Boris Family for their continued investment in addictions care and research at St. Joe’s.”
Why a Program Specifically for Addiction in Young Adults?
In 2020, more than 625 youth and young adults sought care from St. Joe’s Emergency Mental Health Service for overdoses and substance use concerns. That number is projected to increase based on the uptick in substance use during COVID-19. Despite the risks, many young people see substance use as a lifestyle choice and an expression of adulthood.
“It’s very concerning,” says Holly Raymond, Clinical Director, General Psychiatry and Addiction Services at St. Joe’s. “Youth arrive at our emergency room after a frightening substance use episode, a physical attack or an arrest related to their substance-induced state, but once they’ve received initial treatment and are on the mend, they start missing follow-up appointments or drop out of their community-based treatment program. So, as a care team, we started asking why.”
It turns out, youth don’t identify with people in a Hospital setting as they don’t feel sick, or don’t think their substance use is a problem, leading them to abandon treatment. By listening to their feedback, and building a care program around their unique needs, St. Joe’s is helping to head off addiction in young adults before it takes hold.
How the Young Adult Substance Use Program is Different
With expertise in social work, community support, nursing, addiction psychology, psychiatry and clinical research, the YA-SUP care team is trained to be sensitive to the complex life challenges young adults face: from changes in living arrangements to a desire for independence.
Through virtual or in-person touchpoints, and one-on-one and group-based care, clients are supported in a safe space so they don’t feel alone. There’s even education for loved ones as, often, youth are referred for treatment by their school, friends or families.