Addiction
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Overdose Awareness in Canada
In recent years, Canada has witnessed a surge in overdose-related deaths, drawing attention to the devastating impact of drug misuse and addiction on individuals, families, and communities. The rapid proliferation of powerful synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, has compounded the crisis, claiming thousands of lives annually. This article aims to shed light on the factors that contribute to addiction, the signs of an overdose, and the increasing role of fentanyl in overdose deaths. Addiction: A Multifaceted Issue Addiction is a complex, multifaceted issue that cannot be attributed to any one factor. While the causes of addiction are varied, some contributing factors are more commonly seen than others: Biological Factors: Genetics…
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Nicotine Addiction
To understand the addictive nature of cigarette smoking, we must first delve into the main ingredient responsible for it: Nicotine. Nicotine is a naturally occurring, highly addictive compound found in tobacco plants. When smoked or ingested, it triggers the release of various neurotransmitters, including dopamine, which promotes a sense of pleasure and reward in the brain. The intensity and rapidity of this effect, coupled with its immediate wear-off, create a powerful cycle of reward and withdrawal, inducing a craving for repeated exposure. The physical dependency on nicotine develops as the body becomes accustomed to functioning with regular nicotine influx. Over time, the brain changes, adjusting to the new norm, and…
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Mental Illness & Substance Use Top Disability Causes in Canada
Mental illness and substance use disorders are significant public health issues in Canada, and they are leading causes of disability. According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, as many as 1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental illness in any given year. Similarly, substance use disorders also affect millions of Canadians each year. Mental illness is a term that encompasses a wide range of conditions that affect a person’s thinking, mood, behavior, and overall functioning. These conditions include anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and eating disorders, among others. Mental illness can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life, and it is a leading…
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The Negative Effects of Alcohol
While alcohol is widely popular and considered socially acceptable, it can still have dangerous effects on people’s health. From a physical standpoint, alcohol can lead to dehydration, weight gain, and damage to the internal organs; in addition to having a psychological impact. When it comes to physical health consequences, the most common is dehydration. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it causes an increase in urination. This can cause dehydration, which can lead to fatigue, headaches, and other physical symptoms. As the body becomes increasingly dehydrated, it becomes more difficult for the cells to function and for the brain to process information. As a result, people can become weak, dizzy,…
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Alcoholism Awareness
When you think of the word addiction, you most likely correlate it to the use of illicit drugs (such as heroin or cocaine) or abuse of prescription medication (such as opiates, including fentanyl.) However, addiction is not just limited to drug use. Alcohol can also be addicting, which is why the month of April is dedicated to raising awareness on alcoholism – a very real disease that requires intervention. Without it, your life could be in jeopardy. Alcoholism can affect anyone. While experts have tried to pinpoint certain factors on the disease, such as race and socioeconomics, none of these have been found to be a direct cause. That being…
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Pop Culture and Mental Health
Recently, films like ‘A Star Is Born’ and shows like A&E’s 6-part docuseries ‘Many Sides of Jane’, have shone an important spotlight on mental health and addiction. While two very different takes on mental illness, it is pop culture moments such as these that can have the biggest impact on how mental health is perceived and discussed in the world today. Dissociative Identity Disorder In ‘Many Sides of Jane’, cameras follow the life of a 28-year-old woman living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) – previously known as Multiple Personality Disorder. Affecting between 0.4% and 1.5% of people, Dissociative Identity Disorder is considered to be a quite rare condition, but real…
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Best Ways to Fight Hangovers
Excessive alcohol consumption isn’t something that health professionals promote; however, if you happened to have one too many cocktails or other alcoholic beverages, then you most likely know what it’s like to wake up with a head-pounding hangover in the morning. In fact, over 75% of adults say they wake up with hangovers following a night of drinking. As for what actually causes a hangover, there are a number of reasons. When you drink, your body produces more urine. The more urine you pass, the higher the risk is that you will become dehydrated, which is associated with hangovers. Alcohol can also trigger an inflammatory response from the immune system,…
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The Dangers of Binge Drinking
Binge drinking is a term that is used to describe excessive alcohol consumption. If you drink in excess, then you may have what’s considered Alcohol Use Disorder – or AUD – which is on the rise in North America. In addition, excessive alcohol consumption is also one of the leading causes for many different health issues affecting people worldwide, and as many as 88,000 working-age individuals (between 20 and 64 years old) will die from alcohol-related causes each year. Binge drinking is defined as having multiple servings of alcohol within a short time frame. For women, they fall under the category of binge drinking if they consume 4 or more…
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Alcoholism: What You Need to Know
When it comes to alcohol, there are four different classifications of drinkers: • An Abstainer: Someone who doesn’t drink or rarely drinks at all. • Social Drinker: Someone who drinks small amounts in social settings (i.e. when out with friends, celebrating a birthday, etc.) but knows when to set boundaries and when they’ve had enough. • Binger: When someone drinks to excess (usually 4 or more drinks in one setting.) • Dependent: Someone who consumes large amounts of alcohol and relies on alcohol. There are also five different classifications of alcoholics: • Young Adult: Approximate 32% of alcoholics fall into this category, with the average age being anywhere from 20…
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What is Naloxone?
Compared to other regions in British Columbia, Vancouver saw the highest rate of opioid-related deaths in 2017. Find out what doctors, pharmacists and emergency medical responders are doing to combat the epidemic. The primary use of opioids is to relieve pain. Examples of some of these opioids include Codeine, Morphine, Oxycodone, and Hydromorphone. When prescribed an opioid, patients are to follow directions exactly as provided to them by their physician and pharmacist. They should never be taken with alcohol or other medications (unless specified), should not be given to or taken by individuals whom the opioid was not originally prescribed to, and should always be stored in a safe and…