Located at 1025 Queen St West 5th Floor in Toronto, the NDC is part of INTREPID Lab (formerly Nicotine Dependence Service) at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
Our team works with you to develop a treatment plan, and offers evidence-based comprehensive treatment that may include counselling support, groups, medical consultation, health teaching, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and medication prescriptions. Read more below under Services.
Services at The NDC
Our team of therapists, nurses, and doctors at the NDC are ready to support you in your journey to quit smoking or vaping. The clinic also offers specialized treatment for pregnant women, youth, and individuals with other substance use issues, serious physical or mental health concerns.
1. Individual appointments
Different members of the clinic team will meet with you to address different aspects of your treatment journey.
Assessment by a therapist:
Our therapists will review the assessment you completed in advance of your appointment with you or your support person. This information will include your nicotine use history, current use, other substance use, medical and psychiatric illness and other relevant information. This will help the therapist develop a treatment plan together with you.
Treatment appointments with nurse or doctor:
Appointments with our nurses or doctors are part of the treatment plan for most patients. At your initial medical consultation you can discuss options for treatment with medication and at follow-up appointments, how you are responding to the treatment will be monitored and treatment will be adjusted accordingly. We prescribe medications that include Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) patches, gum, lozenge, and inhaler; bupropion, varenicline, and cytisine.
Other appointments:
There are voluntary research studies and other programs offered at the NDC. The benefits of joining such studies or programs is that you can get access to new treatment options or medication free of cost, and the information you provide will help researchers and program implementers improve future treatment options.
2. Group appointments
Counselling support is typically offered through group sessions, available both in-person and virtually (via video meetings). Groups may be drop-in or require registration, depending on the program.
Registration Required:
The Nicotine Dependence Clinic currently offers five registered groups. To learn more or to sign up, please contact reception at 416-535-8501 ext. 77400 or speak with your NDC clinician.
Stress Management Group (in-person and virtual)
This is a weekly in-person group which aims to assist clients with understanding their stressors and developing coping strategies to better manage stress. This group addresses how stress manifests in our cognitions, behaviors, emotions and the body. Therapeutic modalities incorporated includes techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, mindfulness meditation, compassion-based practices, somatic/body focused approaches, and biopsychosocial theory. Clients will also learn and practice different stress management techniques each week, based on theory.
Check in + Chat Workshops (in-person)
This is a bi-weekly in-person group which aims to assist clients with achieving/maintaining abstinence or reduction for nicotine use. Members of this group may be at any stage of change with respect to their nicotine use. Each session discusses pharmacological, behavioural, emotional/psychological and environmental coping strategies and tools. Topics range on a bi-weekly rotational basis from nutrition, relaxation, medication, coping strategies, art therapy, etc.
6-week Skills Group (virtual)
Learn about getting unstuck when it comes to quitting, developing a change plan, sticking to the change plan, and relapse prevention. Connect with our treatment team for further details on how to join this 6-week group.
Ongoing Support Group (virtual)
This group offers support, tips to quitting, and help to prevent relapse for anyone at any stage in their journey to quit smoking. The support group is offered weekly and attendance is optional, but registration with our treatment team is required.
Drop in Groups:
The Nicotine Dependence Clinic is excited to offer four new vendor-led classes through Gifts of Light this spring, running from April 1 to June 27, 2025. All classes are drop-in—no registration required. For more information, please contact reception at 416-535-8501 ext. 77400 or speak with your NDC clinician.
Tai Chi (in-person)
This class offers an introduction to Tai Chi and Qi Gong, with focus on body-mind exercises, balance and coordination, energy work and stress relief. All levels of experience and abilities are welcome. Modifications are offered whenever needed. We recommend you wear comfortable clothing that you can move around easily in, as well as running shoes or sneakers.
Mobile Arts Program (in-person)
These sessions are a fun and interactive way to create music with industry-standard recording equipment. This is a great opportunity to flex your creativity muscles with song-writing, music-making and self-expression.
Songwriting (in-person)
These sessions take you through all of the stages of producing a song, including writing, build harmony and melody. This is a great opportunity to flex your creativity muscles with song-writing, music-making and self-expression.
Art Cart Mixed Media (in-person)
These sessions focus on skill development and creative exploration through a variety of artistic mediums. This is a great opportunity to connect with peers living with mental health and/or addiction experiences with a shared goal of making art together.
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