Coming Together to Build a Safer Community

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What is Prescribed Alternatives?

Prescribed Alternatives, commonly known as Safer Supply, is a harm reduction program with a public health approach, which involves prescribing persons who use drugs a pharmaceutical alternative to the illicit toxic drug supply. This allows individuals to use pharmaceuticals of known quantity and composition, which significantly reduces the risk of overdose, hospitalization, and complications related to drug use. More than just a pharmaceutical alternative, focuses on the individual as a whole and works collaboratively with persons who use drugs to achieve medical, personal and social stability.
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Collaborative Care

As part of this patient-centered, harm reduction-focused approach to substance use, the Prescribed Alternatives program encourages the collaboration of healthcare professionals and organizations across the national capital region. This includes in the community, in hospital and in many other settings. We see better engagement, treatment retention, health-related and social outcomes when people and organizations work together with clients.
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HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

The Prescribed Alternative team members, in partnership with Ottawa Public Health, has created a guiding document which outlines the structure and functions of the program. The purpose of the document is to promote knowledge translation and to provide information for providers wishing to engage in the program.
ALL PROVIDERS

Clinics

Find out where Prescribed Alternatives are offered in the national capital region and how to contact the different sites.
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PATIENT RESOURCES

Access our library for information on important wraparound resources for clients engaged with the program.
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