The Annex

07/18/2025

Have you ever been involved in a treatment program specifically related to drug use?
Treatment programs are well known as facilities in which one lives in for a time, while focused on recovery. Programs can be as short as a couple weeks, to as long as a year, or more. Program components vary widely, most being 12-step, some therapeutic, others holistic, some encompassing mental health wellness, with or without spiritual emphasis. All should be trauma-informed.
Longer is better. A lifetime of pain, trauma and substance use can not possibly be fully addressed in shorter programs. But we all have to run our own journeys, or take our own paths to recovery. It is a bumpy ride, full of fits and starts, as they say. One size does not fit all.
If you answered ‘yes’ to this question, you may be familiar with this. For you, sober and clean is not the same as treated and recovered, meaning that treatment has something to do with WHY we use substances in the first place.
Let us help you help yourself. Our confidential counselling and support staff can help you discover the world of a recovered you. A simple call to us at 226-216-0863 is a simple first step. Or email us at info@theannexcentre.ca.
The Annex in Sarnia, 184 Davis St. Mon-Wed-Fri 11:30 – 3:30pm The path to recovery. A charity in Sarnia, Ontario. b27

07/18/2025

How do we judge success or failure in this polarized, all or nothing world, when it comes to recovery? One side thinks that any slip or fall is failure, while others think that since slips are inevitable recovery shouldn't be a priority. Recovery is rarely a straight path, yet it is invaluable. There are only two ways out of addiction, recovery or death, and every step toward recovery is a success.
At the Annex we are privileged to have been around many success stories, but they are not our victories. It is our friends that have done all the hard work and walked that path to sobriety. If you are in recovery keep moving toward sobriety. If you are in the life of someone trying to get sober, celebrate every successful step, stand with them after every slip,, and encourage them to the best of your ability. We are on your side. 321 Talbot St. St Thomas, right beside the Grace Cafe. 226.896.0080 and 184 Davis St, Sarnia, phone 226.216.0863.

07/10/2025

While the life of someone involved in problematic drug use may not always appear chaotic, the internal life certainly is. This is most true for the high proportion of individuals who are involved in drug use in an attempt deal with undiagnosed or untreated mental illness. Whether a psychosis existed before an addiction or developed after one started is simply a detail. In many, the chaos of the psychosis must be treated to the degree it is possible to then treat the addiction.
This chaos is why you will often see a person in recovery guarding their "peace" with near militancy. For them, the lack of peace represents not only the state they were in during their worst times but can be a warning of impending danger. Those of us who are in some form of relationship with those either in recovery or beginning the journey need to support them with peace, and not chaos. They have had enough of that. We are on your side. 321 Talbot St. St Thomas, right beside the Grace Cafe. 226.896.0080 and 184 Davis St, Sarnia, phone 226.216.0863.

07/09/2025

07/08/2025

The ‘safer drug policy’ has resulted in an INCREASE in opioid overdose hospitalizations, according to a recent study published. This study has also found that overdose deaths did not decrease, as promised by the harm reduction advocates. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2831562.
This study of the British Columbia safer supply policy and decriminalization of drug possession, regretfully adopted by many other provinces, shows the unintended consequences of a drug policy that has had very drastic negative impacts, in a failed attempt to ‘solve’ a very complex issue.
It is time for Ontario and its municipalities to wake up to this reality, and come to terms with the only long term solution: addiction treatment programs. There must be a focused commitment to access trauma-informed evidence-based addictions treatment, by a commitment to increasing beds in Ontario on a scale of magnitude, and decreasing wait times, if it ever wishes to permanently address homelessness/addiction. Take a look at what Alberta is doing.
The Annex in Sarnia, 184 Davis St. Mon-Wed-Fri 11:30 – 3:30pm The path to permanent recovery. A charity in Sarnia, Ontario. b29

07/04/2025

We would be more effective in "dealing" with addiction if we were able to see it as a solution to a problem, rather than as the problem itself. Without question it is a poor solution, but it seems that there is a fear that if we remove the ethical or moral judgment then the addicted will lose the responsibility for their actions. In fact, the addicted live with the consequences of their actions everyday, and our judgment does little to change that.
The actual problems people carry under their addictions are many, but focusing there would see some treated for addiction, trauma, and abuse, and others (a surprising number) treated with serious psychological/psychiatric therapy. Many need both. Simply quitting using substances does have its benefits, but dealing with those living problems gives a much greater chance at long term sobriety and a new life. We are on your side. 321 Talbot St. St Thomas, right beside the Grace Cafe. 226.896.0080 and 184 Davis St, Sarnia, phone 226.216.0863.

07/01/2025

Most of the chronicly unhoused are masters at surviving - ask them, and to no surprise, most would actually like more from our tax dollars. They want a way out of the addiction.

Why is there so much opposition to even discussing a shift back to letting charity do what they do best (food, clothing, drop-ins) and use our tax dollars to offer those who are addicted and living unsheltered more than an enabled street life?

How much taxpayer funding in recent years has created jobs for what used to be done by volunteers? And now $1M per year in taxpayer funding for food (even though so much appears to be generously donated) and which many organizations do without taxpayer dollars…Looking ahead to 2026/2027 contracts, is it time to reflect?

It’s very strange to me that those who are the loudest at preaching compassion are the ones fighting for the right to remain trapped in addiction and encampments. Ask people on the streets what they want and most will say they want help getting sober, healthy and housed. So why are more and more tax dollars are going to pay salaries for outreach, drop-in and delivering food/drug equipment, etc?

What is the plan for 2026? More all season encampment support? What role will Council choose to play in the contract decisions of 2026? What is the way out of this crisis?

06/30/2025

Have you ever been in a hospital for medical problems related to your drug use?
Thank God we will not be refused medical care due to substance abuse. However, being hospitalized is the clear escalation of the harms of the substances of one’s addiction. One way or another, the poisons we consume will inflict their increasing toll on our bodies, our minds, and our life’s prospects. And there is an end, a line in the sand. How close are you?
If you answered ‘yes’ to this question, you need to listen to this signal, to this telltale. How many times do you get to address this issue? If you are reading this, most likely you have another chance to turn things around. But first and foremost, you must consider stopping the use of these poisonous substances.
Harm reduction is a myth.
Our confidential counselling and support staff can help you discover the world of a healthier you. A simple call to us at 226-216-0863 is a simple first step. Or email us at info@theannexcentre.ca.
The Annex in Sarnia, 184 Davis St. Mon-Wed-Fri 11:30 – 3:30pm The path to recovery. A charity in Sarnia, Ontario. b26

06/28/2025

Thank you to Ian, My Fm, and City Scope for celebrating our third anniversary with us, and for caring about our community. L

The Annex, the addictions resource centre and outreach program of the Grace Café, is dedicated to helping individuals access addiction services and programs and supports those struggling with addic…

06/27/2025

06/25/2025

I wanted to thank everyone who came out to celebrate our third anniversary, and especially our exceptional staff who do such compassionate, effective, and tireless work. We are on your side.