Contacts with a Canadian "street level" drug and crisis centre, 1972-76

The Calgary Distress Centre/Drug Centre is a "street level" agency that deals with both drug and non-drug related crises. Telephone and drop-in service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Centre has approximately 60 non-professional volunteers and a paid staff of six. Data about crisis information and counselling contacts over the period 1972-76 are presented and discussed. The Distress Centre/Drug Centre is perhaps a useful model on which to base other crisis intervention facilities. Furthermore, the systematic compilation of data regarding contacts with the agency provides significant insight regarding trends in drug use and evolution of the agency.