About Us

The Addiction Redeemer's Ministry is a faith-based addiction recovery support ministry dedicated to providing a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for individuals seeking hope, healing, and recovery from substance use and behavioural addictions.

Our ministry offers peer support, education, mentorship, group discussions, spiritual encouragement, and access to community resources. While licensed professionals may volunteer or participate in the program, the Addiction Redeemer's Ministry encourages you to continue to follow up with your family physician and care team for any health or mental condition of concern.

Participation in the ministry is voluntary. Before participating, please review the information below.

Confidentiality

We strive to create an environment built on trust and respect.

Among participants: everyone who takes part is asked, as a matter of mutual respect, not to share what others disclose in the group outside of it. This is a shared expectation among peers, not a legal guarantee — the Ministry cannot control what another participant does with information they hear, and cannot promise that every participant will honour this expectation. Please keep this in mind when deciding what to share.

By Ministry leaders and volunteers: leaders and volunteers will keep what you share confidential, and will only disclose it in the limited circumstances set out below.

Where a volunteer is acting as a regulated health professional (for example, a physician or psychotherapist providing care within the program), that person is also independently bound by their own professional and legal confidentiality obligations — including, where applicable, Ontario's Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA). Those obligations apply in addition to, not instead of, this policy.

Limits of Confidentiality

Confidentiality may be broken without your permission if:

• there is reason to believe you may seriously harm yourself;
• there is reason to believe you may seriously harm another person;
• there are reasonable grounds to suspect a child (under 18) is or may be in need of protection — in Ontario, everyone has a legal duty to report this to a Children's Aid Society, and this duty overrides confidentiality;
• disclosure is required by a court order, warrant, or other legal process;
• disclosure is otherwise required by law, including applicable health privacy legislation.

Whenever appropriate, we will attempt to discuss the need for disclosure with you beforehand.

Collection of Personal Information

The Addiction Redeemer's Ministry may collect information necessary to administer the program, including:

• Full name
• Phone number
• Email address
• Emergency contact
• Relevant medical information voluntarily disclosed by the participant
• Attendance records

By participating, you consent to the collection, use, and limited disclosure of this information as described in this document. This information will be kept secure and used only for Ministry administration, participant safety, and communication, and will not be shared without your consent except as required by law.

We will retain your information only as long as needed for these purposes. You may request access to, or correction of, the personal information we hold about you by contacting our program coordinator (see Contact).

Nature of the Ministry

The Addiction Redeemer's Ministry provides:

• Access to volunteer certified addiction physicians and psychotherapists
• Peer support
• Educational workshops
• Recovery mentorship
• Faith-based encouragement and optional prayer
• Referrals to community resources when appropriate

Participation in discussions, prayer, or spiritual activities is voluntary. Individuals of all backgrounds are welcome and will be treated with dignity and respect.

Participation in this ministry does not, by itself, establish a therapist-client, physician-patient, or other regulated healthcare provider relationship. However, if a volunteer professional provides you with individual clinical advice or care within the program, that specific interaction may fall under their normal professional and regulatory obligations, separate from this general Ministry disclaimer.

Eligibility

This program is intended for adults (18 years of age or older). If you have questions about participation for a minor, please contact the program coordinator before attending.

Participant Responsibilities

To help maintain a safe environment, participants agree to:

• Treat everyone with respect.
• Respect the confidentiality expectations described above.
• Refrain from harassment, discrimination, threats, or violence.
• Attend meetings free from alcohol or illicit drug impairment.
• Respect differing opinions and experiences.
• Follow the directions of program leaders.

Participants whose behaviour compromises the safety or well-being of others may be asked to leave the program.

Medical and Mental Health Disclaimer

The Addiction Redeemer's Ministry does not provide:

• Detoxification services
• Emergency intervention
• Crisis counselling
• Psychiatric care

Participants are encouraged to maintain relationships with their physicians, addiction specialists, counsellors, psychiatrists, psychologists, or other healthcare providers as appropriate.

Any educational information shared during meetings is intended for general educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical or mental health advice.

Emergencies

The Addiction Redeemer's Ministry is not an emergency service.

If you are experiencing:

• thoughts of suicide,
• thoughts of harming another person,
• a medical emergency,
• overdose,
• or are in immediate danger,

call 911 immediately or go to the nearest emergency department.

Electronic Communication

Email, telephone, and text messaging may be used for:

• program announcements;
• schedule changes;
• registration;
• administrative communication.

Electronic communication should not be used to request emergency assistance or crisis support.

Photography and Recording

To protect everyone's privacy:

• Participants may not photograph, video record, or audio record meetings without prior written permission from the program coordinator and every participant present.
• Any official program photographs or promotional materials will require separate written consent, documented by the program coordinator.

Limitation of Responsibility

Participation in the Addiction Redeemer's Ministry is voluntary. The Ministry does not assume responsibility for:

• a participant's medical care, mental health care, addiction treatment, medications, or healthcare decisions;
• any outcome of participation, including whether a participant achieves or maintains recovery;
• actions, statements, or disclosures made by other participants, including any breach of the confidentiality expectations described above.

Each participant remains solely responsible for their own medical, mental health, and healthcare decisions, and is encouraged to continue working with their own physician or care team throughout their participation.

Governing Law

This agreement is governed by the laws of Ontario and the applicable federal laws of Canada.