We used to fear Mary Jane, then we laughed about her, and now many of us think she’s downright wholesome. Marijuana’s public image has undergone a stunning transformation since the scare-mongering of Reefer Madness and the dope comedies of Cheech and Chong, but many doctors believe that weed’s rehabilitation as a virtual wonder drug may […]
Addiction Medicines
Addiction medicines are seen as aids and tools for clinical treatment and to be prescribed to patients as part of a treatment plan that integrates the use of medications with good clinical behavioral treatment. NaltrexoneFor alcohol abusers: Naltrexone, marketed since 1994 is the first medication since antabuse that has been approved for the treatment of […]
Alcohol & the Body
Alcohol is a depressant that affects all parts of the body. People usealcohol to feel pleasure, decrease anxiety and sexual inhibitions, and often to relax. (In the later stage of alcohol dependence, alcohol maybe ingested to decrease uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.) Anintoxicated person will show certain signs and symptoms depending onthe level of alcohol in their blood […]
Addiction: What Gets us Hooked?
Some people have their lives destroyed by drugs or alcohol, while others can indulge and walk away. Now doctors are beginning to understand the reasons why. “My destructive side has grown a mile wide,” she sang on her first album in 2003. The cause of Amy Winehouse’s death has not yet been confirmed, but her […]
Kind Love Beats Tough Love
Dr. Gabor Mate is renowned in Canada for his work in treating people with the worst addictions, most notably at Vancouver’s controversial Insite facility, which provides users with clean needles, medical support and a safe space to inject drugs.Canada’s Conservative government has tried to shut Insite down, butthe country’s Supreme Court ruled late last year that doing […]
Mental Health Disorder & Substance Abuse
When families learn that a relative has both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder, they often feel shocked and scared.Mental health disorders on their own can overwhelm families. Familieswho once had a safe and comfortable daily routine may find themselveson an emotional roller coaster. There are many studies that document the stress families […]
What is Relapse?
A relapse occurs when a person in recovery re-experiences problems or symptoms associated with his or her disorders. With substance usedisorders, a relapse means a return to problem substance use after aperiod of abstinence or controlled use. With mental health disorders,a relapse is a flare-up of symptoms that are associated with thedisorder. A relapse of […]
Path to Recovery
The belief that you can change is the key to change. Addictions are really no different from other behaviors—believing you can change encourages commitment to the process and enhances the likelihood of success. For many, this seems to be a conflicting message when compared with the AA’s message of being powerless over the addiction, and […]
What About Medication ?
The use of Medication-Assisted-Treatment when addressing addiction issues appears to provoke a great deal of attention. There has been no consensus even within the recovering community about the role of use of medication in recovery. There seem to be a general acceptance of medications for the treatment of chronic medical conditions, excluding addiction and psychiatric issues. […]
Faulty Thinking?
Our thoughts are constantly helping us to interpret the world around us, describing what’s happening, and trying to make sense of it by helping us interpret events, sights, sounds, smells, feelings. Without even realizing it, we are interpreting and giving our own meanings to everything happening around us. We might decide that something is pleasant […]
Am I Drinking Too Much?
How can I tell if alcohol is a problem for me? Alcohol is a problem if it affects any part of your life, including your health, your work and your life at home. You may have a problem with alcohol if you think about drinking all the time, if you keep trying to quit on […]
Addiction and Recovery
Addiction is the continued use of alcohol and other drugs even when that use is causing harm. It is a physical and psychological craving or compulsion to use a mood-altering substance. The disease concept of addiction (as described by AA) means that addiction is a primary disease—it’s not the result of some other problem, like […]
Substance Abuse and Mood and Anxiety Disorders
It is difficult to deal with any of these issues on its own, however, when both are presented, figuring out the best approach to treatment can be confusing and difficult. Both substance abuse and mental health problems can be chronic, recurring, and requiring some immediate interventions and ongoing monitoring and support. Mental health symptoms may be exacerbated by […]
Understanding Blood Alcohol Content
Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) refers to the milligrams of alcohol per 100 milligrams of blood, usually expressed as a percentage. In other words, .10 BAC is 1 part alcohol for every 1,000 parts blood. An absolute BAC can only be obtained by drawing a sample of blood. As that method is not always practical, the […]
Family Issues in Recovery- What do I Need to Know?
Familes are often the primary support for people who have substance use and/or mental health problems. Families are likely to experience significant physical, emotional, social and spiritual stress. Although there are a growing number of interventions designed to help and support family members, many helpers “perceive this as secondary to the job of working with […]
Treatments for Mental Health and Addiction
Most people who have a mental health and/or substance use disorder can be effectively treated— including those with disorders that are very disabling such as schizophrenia. The future is even more promising as we better understand mental illness and develop new treatments. Treatments for the various disorders depend on the disorder itself. We have listed […]
Prescription Painkillers a Potential Danger to Society
A wave of new prescription painkillers presents a potential danger to society, some medical researchers warn.“The deaths are going to continue,” said Dr. David Juurlink, a leading Canadian researcher on pain medication. “The only thing that’s going to stop them is reduced prescribing. “Pharmaceutical companies have made billions and billions of dollars. And over the […]
How to Self-Assess Your Drinking, And Then What?
The simplest way to begin to self-assess your drinking is to implement the Cage questionnaire. However, assessing your drinking openly and honestly, is not an easy task. Make sure that once you complete the CAFE questionaairree you also review some of the other considerations listed below. The CAGE questionnaire was developed by Dr. John Ewing, […]