Recovery From Addiction

Many people do not know what addiction stands for and this is why they would hardly believe anyone who tells them they are addicted. There are some addicted individuals who are unaware of their condition and they are endangering their lives each day.

One of the major types of addiction in Canada is Drug addiction and alongside with alcohol addiction, it is one of the primary types of addiction which is prevalent in several people.

Below are some of the effects of drug addiction in Canada

Poor immune system

Drug addiction affects the immune system in a number of ways. In the long-term, drug addiction adversely impairs the digestive system, damaging the tracts in the digestive tract.

This results in the slow-down of how the body absorbs vital protein. Also, the liver functioning is affected which results in an abnormal storage of essential vitamins.

In addition, the body becomes incapable of producing enough white blood cells, which affects the body’s response to cancers and other diseases.

The effect on the Heart

Someone who is addicted to drugs is at a higher risk of coming down with heart-related problems like stroke and heart attack. These drugs regularly increase the heart rate and increases blood pressure, which makes the individual more susceptible to stroke and heart attack.

The effect on the Brain

The brain is where the rush of the chemicals are felt, and if the brain continues to experience this intense rush, its optimal functioning is affected. The brain’s structure is affected when drugs are used for a very long time. And since the brain is still developing, alterations can induce long-term effects.

In addition, some studies have shown that there is a connection between mental disorder and drug addiction. In most instances, the brain reconfigures itself according to what the drug dictates. This is what occurs during long-term use of drugs.

If you know someone who is addicted to drugs in Canada, it is important for you to get involved by trying to help them.

According to the erstwhile Canadian Alcohol and Drug Use Monitoring Survey in 2012, an estimate of 21.6% of Canadians met the criterion for all the substance use disorders. This implies that, as at 2012, about 8 million people were struggling with addiction in Canada.

The challenge several people have is identifying those who are addicted, and with the signs and symptoms below, you can spot an addicted person.

• Financial Issues

Those who are addicted usually have issues with their finances. You will discover that they run out of cash quite too often. This is because they spend excessively and regularly on their addiction.

These individuals can go to the extent of borrowing money to fund their addiction, and they usually run into debts.

• Show of irresponsibility

Individuals who are addicted usually ignore their personal obligations because of their addiction. For the addicted students, they would concentrate more on their addiction instead of school.

The bulk of their attention would be on their addiction and their interest in academics would drop.

Similarly, the working-class individuals would find it challenging to focus on work. Rather, their attention would be invested in their addiction. And it is easy for this set of people to get sacked.

• Isolation

Addicted individuals prefer to keep to themselves rather than mingle with others. The reason is they are aware that their addiction is a nuisance to their family and friends. And to prevent the stigmatization, they would rather keep to themselves instead of staying with others.

• Unhealthy relationships

One feature typical of addicted individuals is the kind of relationships they keep. The worst part of these relationships is, they promote the individual’s addiction. And since there is no one available to correct them, they would continue to get worse in their addiction problem.

It would be difficult for addicted individuals to let go of these relationships because of the pleasure that comes with addiction.

Once you have spotted someone who is addicted, it is advised to help them seek help before their problem gets worse.

When it comes to addiction recovery, it could be the same like other parts of the world.

The major difference would however be that, Canada being a developed country and having a top-notch medical system, would facilitate a quicker and safer means of addiction recovery.

The processes involved however, are pretty much the same like other countries in the world.

No two persons have the capacity to recover from addiction, in the exact way. It could be the same process, but there would surely be a clear difference.

Addicted individuals need to own up to the fact that, they are addicted, and they need help to break through. This is the first step to recovery from addiction in Canada.

The next step is to seek a search support. The quicker you get support, the faster your recovery process. You need to get someone that can be trusted.

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Someone who will be willing to go down the recovery route with you, even though they are not addicted. If there is no loved one around, then it would be beneficial to consult the services of a counselor.

Addiction has a certain peculiarity, and this is the process of carrying out the same routine repeatedly. To break free from addiction, you need to quit the usual routine, this would make it difficult for addiction to surface.

You need to take up new challenges and tasks, and modify the way you address some issues.

The process of substituting a bad habit with a good one is important, and this would go a long way in ensuring you recover faster from addiction.

In addition to this, people who are recovering from addiction need to make amends for their shortcomings.

During the course of addiction, there are tendencies to have misunderstandings with people, particularly those who are close to you. This is why it is necessary to make amends.

Also, you also need to make sure you avoid relapse. One of the best ways to do this, is to be under the guidance of a counselor.

Mental health counseling is a profession which specializes in the use of various psychotherapy techniques and methods, for the purpose of helping people who are going through psychological distress.

Mental health problem is highly prevalent, and this stresses the demand for the need of mental health counseling.

In Canada, mental health counseling is very common. People are known to encounter various psychological challenges at different points in their lives.

A good number of times, they find it difficult to cope all by themselves, and hence, they need the help of a professional to help them pull through.

One of the functions of mental health counseling in Canada is, the proper assessment and diagnosis of clients who are going through symptoms of psychological problems.

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This form of assessment is usually conducted without any form of bias. The counselor approaches all cases with an open mind.

In addition to this, mental health counseling also provide a platform where they can discuss with their clients concerning their emotions, thoughts and experiences.

Mental health counselors are professionals whose job is to ensure they are always here for you. Not everyone feels safe opening up to family and friends, so they would rather opt for a mental health professional.

Mental health counseling also provides an avenue whereby they work with clients, with the aim of identifying thoughts, behaviors and situations, which could affect their wellness and recovery.

They also pinpoint and evaluate social issues, which might be responsible for influencing the mental health of an individual.

When it comes to the form of treatment which a counselor would give, they are usually personalized. This is because, no two clients can have the same mental health problem.

Hence, it is important for a counselor to take out ample time to listen to the client, and take the necessary deductions which would be quintessential to providing a working treatment plan.

A good number of people who are in the mental health counseling wing in Canada, are those who have a bachelor’s degree in sociology, psychology and the likes.

Food is needed for our survival, and hence, it is difficult to do without food for a long period of time. Food provides pleasure, enjoyment and the likes, and it is needed to sustain us. We are motivated to eat food based on the taste, texture and smell.

There are some people who are addicted to food, but they are unaware of this.

As a matter of fact, the severity of food addiction is likened to alcohol and drugs addiction. It is very easy to spot people who are addicted to food.

They love foods which have high contents of salt, fat and sugar. Foods which are extremely rich in the above mentioned contents provide gratification feelings.

When you compare these feelings to what an alcohol or drug addict would experience, they are basically the same thing.

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It has reached the extent that, some people depend on these feelings of gratification, and you will find them opting for the foods which provide them.

In some cases, there are some people who go through strenuous work, and the only way they can prevent themselves from burning out, is by eating much food.

Hence, taking food in excess prevents them from being stressed out.

In Canada, food addicts are known for depending on the feelings which they get from some foods. So, even though they are not hungry, they will still feel the desire to eat, and this results in an addictive cycle.

As they eat the food, pleasurable feelings are produced, and they do not take a balanced nutrition in the process.

When food addicts do not get the feelings they desire, or the food they want becomes difficult to access, there are adverse consequences which comes with it.

These consequences are usually unpleasant, and they have severe implications which could ruin their lives in the long run.

The symptoms which come with food addiction are chronic ones, and they damage the life of an individual slowly.

People who are addicted to food need ample care and love, and they need to receive treatment from the best of professionals.  

Drug addiction exists in Canada, and just like the rest of the world. No matter how developed a country might be, drug addiction is a disease which would always be present.

Till now, the healthcare sector is putting strict measures in place to ensure that drug addiction is drastically reduced, particularly the opioid epidemic which is somewhat rampant in the country.

However, based on statistics, drug abuse and addiction in Canada seems to be on the decline. The percentage of people using opioid in Canada has seen a 2% drop in the last few years.

In addition to this, less than 1% of adults have been reported to use the drug. In the world and Canada particularly, one of the commonest homegrown drugs, is methamphetamine.

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This drug is responsible for drug seizures which is a common cause of death in the United States. However, in Canada, it is not a cause for concern because people rarely use it, even though it is commonly grown.

The most abused recreational drug in Canada is cannabis, and the usage is still at a minimal rate.

Based on research, female addicts are likely to die from drug addictions than male addicts, and this probability is pegged at 54%. However, male addicts are more than female addicts.

The people who are at most risk, are teenagers, as a good number of them are found to indulge in both drug and alcohol abuse, which often leads to addiction.

A good number of the drugs which are responsible for drug addiction, are shipped in through the Canada/US border, and they have their origin in Mexico.

A good number of dangerous drugs like opioid fentanyl have their origin from Hong Kong and China, where they are manufactured on a large scale. Thereafter, they are distributed in smaller packages to distributors.

People who are addicted to drugs in Canada, are known to spend massive each year. This is because they have to spend on healthcare costs.

Alongside drug addiction in Canada, another top form of addiction is alcohol addiction.

The good part is, Canada has a proficient medical system, which is enough to cater for the treatment needs of addicts.  

Alcohol addiction results from alcohol abuse and dependence, and it would interest you to know that, it is one of the commonly most abused substances in the world alongside with drugs.

Taking alcohol in large quantities, on a long-term basis is dangerous. There are chances that, health problems would be cause, some of which could result in death.

There are some people who control the rate at which they take alcohol, and there are no effects. While for others, they take alcohol, develop a dependence, and they become addicted in the process.

Based on ample research, alcohol addiction has the capacity to affect the state of health of a person. The organs could be affected such as the kidneys, pancreas, liver and the likes.

On the brain as well, alcohol addiction can affect both long-term and short-term. In essence, the communication pathways of the brain are affected.

The same applies to the behavior and mood of an individual. Alcohol affects the body and brain nutrition, and this could cause damage.

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However, if proper treatment is provided, the brain problems induced by alcohol can be treated. When someone does not take alcohol for a long period of time, there is a tendency that the effects would wear out.

The behavior of an individual can also be affected by alcohol. The person’s speech becomes slurred. Confusion sets in on a regular basis.

The person is also bound to experience memory loss on a temporary basis. This is one of the reasons why drunk drivers are always advised not to get behind the wheels.

They are not in the perfect state of mind, and they are a potential threat to pedestrians and other car users.

People who are addicted to alcohol, find it difficult to own up to their addiction problem. When in fact, this is one of the best ways to commence the journey to defeating addiction.

A counselor is always needed at this phase, because he or she would be there in every step of the way to provide the best treatment plan.