Addiction is a life-threatening and damaging problem for most people. It has severed relationships, created several health risks, and is one leading cause of death worldwide. But what does it mean? In Latin, the term “addiction” means to be “enslaved by” or “bound to”. It is not uncommon to find individuals from all walks of life afflicted by drug and alcohol abuse.
In Canada alone, it has been reported that approximaely 21.6% citizens battle substance abuse disorder. In other words, almost 8 million Canadians struggle with addiction. Even though the general opinion claims that addicts are in no way harming other individuals, the reality of such is far from the truth — substance abuse is responsible for several unfortunate and catastrophic events, including the loss of lives and properties. This is why Canadian drug rehab centres are in high demand.
Factors Responsible for Addiction
Addicts engage in substance abuse for several reasons. For some people it helps them to relax, manage stress, and excitement. It may sound logical, but there are potential health and societal risks associated with substance abuse. Overdependence on drugs, alcohol, and other toxic substances affect an individual’s thought and behavioural patterns.
Undoubtedly, addiction results in the following:
- Mental illnesses
- Financial loss
- Broken homes
- Organ failure
- Nervous system breakdown
- Diseases
It is difficult for an addict to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Understanding the detrimental role of addiction can help people steer clear of this action. Individuals who battle this problem may strongly crave drugs or alcohol. There may be the compulsion to use such toxic substances. Worse still, breaking free from such habits can be challenging, even though the adverse effects are glaring. Addicts cannot control the amount of toxic substances taken or their frequency.
Factoring in these problems, it becomes evident that substance abuse poses a concern to society. As such, there should be measures in place to address this personal and societal disorder.
Substance Abuse and Its Adverse Effects on Canadians
Canada is one of the countries that battle substance abuse. And this problem stems from the fact that it is a top manufacturing spot for hard drugs. It is easy to come across narcotics, including ecstasy and methamphetamines (a recreational but illegal drug). In 2011, cannabis and narcotics suffered low market demand.
However, the likes of MDMA and meth had skyrocketing demands. Worst still, most of the drugs produced in this country find their way to the United States, via various transport means. At a point, 85% of methamphetamines seized in the U.S. were analysed. Results showed that they came from Canada.
What adverse effects do these drugs create? Addicts who battle substance abuse end up losing everything, including relationships. Unfortunately, Canada suffers increasing cases of addiction. Canadian clinics receive more cases of victims with this problem. But that is not all, toxic substances come with adverse effects that are unpredictable and highly volatile. Apart from drug abuse, Canadians battle alcohol abuse as well.
It is worth stating that alcohol abuse is responsible for daily car accidents, most of which are fatal. In 2013, about 2,430 car accident deaths were DUI-related. These cases were drug or alcohol-related, or both. For this reason and many more, the presence of addiction recovery centres have been on the rise, addressing several substance abuse cases.
Identifying Addiction Recovery Centres in Canada
Several rehabilitation centres are present in Canada to address the needs of Canadians battling addiction. Such individuals can get quality treatment. The severity of such cases may vary from one individual to another. As such, medical experts have to find the ideal treatment program for them as well. It is worth noting that Canadian addiction recovery centres provide both inpatients and outpatients with quick, efficient, and affordable services.
Canadian medical services get funded publicly but there is also private services available. For example, Medicare is the Canadian government's publicly-funded healthcare. It caters to several addiction-related cases, including addiction and mental disorders. Canadian seeking addiction recovery treatment can get it directly from the government, however, they have to deal with extended wait times.
On the other hand, private healthcare providers offer inmmediate medical services but the patient has to contribute to the cost of treatment.
Getting Addiction Recovery Treatment
It is worth stating that the Canadian Government implements the following approach when dealing with substance abuse and addiction – prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and enforcement. The healthcare providers are available to examine patients battling addiction. Through such examinations, they can identify the dependency level and area of substance abuse to determine ideal treatment programs.
For people with complex and long-term substance reliance, visiting the nearest addiction recovery centre will be ideal. These rehabilitation centres are equipped with varying treatment programs that address individual needs. The first step a patient takes in recovering from addiction is to undergo detoxification.
Detoxification entails ridding the body of toxic substances. At the same time, the medical experts help the patient manage potentially harmful side effects that come with abstinence. It is essential to know that addiction recovery is not limited to treatment alone. Patients have to undergo counselling and therapy sessions. Without these factors being in place, such individuals may be victims of psychological, social, and behavioural effects associated with substance abstinence.
There are medications that help the patient commence recovery immediately. They provide treatment for withdrawal symptoms linked to various toxic substances, including nicotine, opioids, alcohol, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines.
Undergoing Counselling and Therapy Sessions
Several rehabilitation facilities in Canada provide inpatients and outpatients with addiction recovery counselling. Such activities may be on a daily basis, or a couple of days in a week, depending on the addiction type and severity. During these counselling sessions, the counsellor may identify the underlying source of an addiction. It is worth noting that addiction may stem from a physical or psychological factor. Understanding the root cause of this disorder can lead to a full recovery.
Group therapy sessions are available to help patients with similar addiction problems bond and recover at a fast pace. There are also one-on-one therapy sessions that help the therapist connect with the patient’s needs personally, providing the right recovery methodology.
Counselling and therapy help addicts identify and address underlying factors responsible for addiction and substance abuse. These patients can learn and practice recovery techniques that help them stay clean for the rest of their lives. There are various coping mechanisms available to achieve such goals. They differ from one patient to another.
In Summary
Addiction recovery centres provide patients battling addiction with the right treatment program and recovery technique. They address the physical and psychological factors responsible for substance abuse. As such, patients can take a new path to live a substance-free lifestyle.
Photo:Priscilla Du Preez, Unsplash