There are several reasons why there is a high demand for Addiction workers in our communities. Some of these factors stem from growing needs in our population and others from challenges in the systems delivering support and services. The opioid and substance use crisis, growing mental health needs, waiting times for treatment, government policies around supportive housing, and the shift toward treatment over punishment are a few examples of circumstances that our communities are addressing the complex issue of addiction.  

As Faculty head of the Addiction Worker program, I view the available data and trends in our province as both a challenge and an opportunity for students to become involved in the field of addictions and mental health. At triOS College we recognize this demand and prepare students to be ready to bring their skills and lived experience for career success.  

Why are Addiction Workers important to our communities? 

According to research completed by Addictions and Mental Health an Ontario Community-based mental health and addiction agencies are reporting very serious challenges hiring staff. Due to a backlog in supportive and affordable housing there is a growing need for not just addiction workers, counsellors, therapists but also housing supports, case managers, peer and outreach workers. The role of an addiction worker is to work to foster relationships, to motivate people with addictions to reduce relapse and foster long-term recovery.  

Addictions Workers are often the first point of contact for people who might otherwise never connect with our health system. Addictions workers provide frontline support by promoting safety in areas like prevention, harm reduction to reduce overdose deaths (naloxone, safe supply navigation), and crisis intervention which all save lives daily. All these key interventions reduce pressure on hospitals, police, and emergency services and lower the cost for our health care system and free up emergency rooms. Safer communities result when people who use substances are supported rather than left isolated.  

Addiction rarely occurs in isolation and is tied to poverty, housing instability, unemployment, trauma and systemic inequalities. Addiction Workers connect people to housing, job training, food programs, and legal/financial support, helping break down barriers to recovery. By educating our communities, Addiction Workers advocate compassion over shame and help shift public attitudes toward people with addictions to reduce stigma and create safer more inclusive spaces where people can seek help and treatment.  

How Our Program Prepares Students 

The Addiction Mental Health Worker + Internship (AMHW+I) diploma program at triOS is 66 weeks. It includes a 12-week internship, a 16-week Mental Health option, and CPR/First Aid training. Addiction affects many individuals and communities, and Addiction workers are a vital part of maintaining a healthy society. With the growing population, this is a sector of the healthcare industry that will always have a great demand for highly trained professionals. The Addiction Worker program will provide you with the skills and knowledge that you need to begin your career. You will be trained extensively in pharmacology, treatment planning, addiction resources and networking, and other key areas. The Mental Health option, which comprises five courses and 16 weeks of study, can be taken post completion of the AW diploma program. This program is recognized by the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation (CACCF).   

Key areas of learning include:  

• Treatment and Relapse Prevention Planning 

• Counselling and Trauma Informed Care 

• Case Management 

• Family Dynamics and Addiction  

• Pharmacology and Medically Assisted Treatment 

• Crisis Intervention
  

Certifications you will receive upon graduation from the Addiction Worker Program include: 

• Verbal Intervention Training, Crisis Prevention Institute 

• Trauma and Violence Informed Care, Canadian Public Health Association and Centre4Sexuality 

• Positive Space Training, SafeZone Project 

• Mental Health First Aid Training, Opening Minds 

• Naloxone Administration Training, Various community partners 

• Helping Trafficked Persons, MCIS and Government of Ontario 

• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), Government of Ontario 

• Standard Level First Aid and Level C CPR, Red Cross   

Employers consistently tell us they value graduates who arrive work-ready, adaptable, and able to contribute day one. A student who can demonstrate compassion for the choices others make, without judgment or a need to persuade and recognize that they are here to expand choices offered to others. Students with lived experience have an edge in this field, as there are many peer positions available to people who can ethically manage their own experience when helping others make decisions. 

Career Pathways 

Ontario has a shortage of Addiction Workers, and this means there is high job availability in treatment centres, harm reduction programs, community health centres, shelters, clinics, withdrawal management centres. Addiction Mental Health Workers can work for mental health organizations that have potential to address substance use behaviours. Peer Support is a career option for people with lived experience, which refers to firsthand knowledge gained by individuals who personally experienced substance use, addiction, and recovery. It also includes the experiences of family members, caregivers, and loved ones who have been directly impacted by someone’s addiction. People with lived experience understand the realities, challenges, and barriers of substance use and recovery to provide hope that change is possible.  

Final Thoughts 

The future of our society depends on people who want to make a difference and help create safer and more compassionate communities. Many people enter this field because of their own lived experience or because they have supported or lost a loved one to addiction. Even without personal experience people are drawn to helping others as it aligns with their core values of empathy and compassion. Addiction work is dynamic and involves psychology, counselling, harm reduction, health promotion, crisis intervention, and social justice. Addiction workers have the opportunities to build deep, trusting relationships with others, often becoming a vital source of stability and hope.