ALCOHOL

Alcohol is the most consumed drug in Canada, with a reported 22.7 million Canadians (77 per cent of the population) having consumed an alcoholic beverage during 2015. Alcohol most often appears as a liquid, with wine, beer and hard liquor (vodka, whisky, gin) being the most popular forms. Due to the extreme ease with which alcohol can be purchased and consumed, the potential for abuse of this drug is very high.

Effects of Alcohol Use

Short term: Intoxication, memory loss and blackouts, injury, violence, accidents, spousal abuse, suicide, alcohol toxicity (overdose), death.

Long term: Alcohol dependence, increased risk of several types of cancer (e.g., cancers of the mouth, throat, liver, breast and digestive track), learning and memory problems, mental health (e.g. depression, anxiety), social problems (e.g. lost productivity, unemployment, family problems), diabetes, cirrhosis, pancreatitis, low birth weight, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).

Covering the Cost of Private Addiction Treatment with Health Insurance

Depending on your Health Insurance provider, coverage can vary. Wording in policies, ranges from easy and uncomplicated to difficult and confusing. Some individuals are “fully insured” (pay premiums to an insurance company) while others are “self-insured” (employers pay healthcare costs through an insurance company). Out-of-pocket costs for addiction treatment will vary depending on your policy. Most private insurance policies acknowledge addiction treatment as an allowable claim. Before claiming addiction treatment with your health insurance, contact your insurance provider to confirm coverage.

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COCAINE

Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant drug that often takes the form of a white powder. The most common way users take cocaine is by snorting it through the nose, though it can also be rubbed on the gums or mixed with water and injected. Cocaine can also be smoked in a process called freebasing.

Cocaine promotes a feeling of confidence, euphoria and invincibility in users. The high, however, can be short-lived, causing the user to keep using in larger and more frequently administered doses.

Street names for cocaine include coke, blow, snow and powder.

Effects of Cocaine Use

Short term: Enlarged pupils, narrowed blood vessels, increased heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, erratic, aggressive behavior, irritability, anxiety, restlessness, paranoia, panic, muscle twitches, tremors, dizziness, heart attack, abnormal heart rhythm, headaches, seizures, strokes, coma, nausea and abdominal pain, sudden death.

Long term: Profound sleep deprivation, irritability, frequent panic attacks, paranoia, possible psychosis, decreased appetite, weight loss, dehydration and malnourishment, consequences from snorting cocaine: difficulty swallowing, nosebleeds, decreased sense of smell, nasal septum irritation, hoarse throat, runny nose, consequences from swallowing cocaine: intestinal gangrene (tissue death), consequences from injecting cocaine: development of deadly, allergic reactions to either cocaine or its additives, in the case of street cocaine.

 

CRACK

Crack is a stronger type of cocaine that comes in the form of a hard solid, often broken up into jagged pieces, accounting for its street name; ‘rocks’. Crack is a more potent form of regular cocaine due to its increased purity, giving the user a more intense immediate high. The high, however, only lasts for 5 to 20 minutes, meaning that the user is always searching for their next fix.

Crack is most often smoked through a small pipe with a short stem, which helps to strengthen the drug’s intensity as it is inhaled. The crackling sound that the drug makes when it is smoked is what gives it its name. It can also be dissolved in water and injected.

Street names for crack include rocks, candy, gravel and nuggets.

Effects of Crack Use

Short term: Irritability, intense anxiety, restlessness, aggressive behavior, paranoia.

Long term: Ulceration of the mucus membranes in the nose and throat, respiratory problems, chest pains, internal bleeding, cardiac arrest, seizures.

 

OPIOIDS

Opioids, otherwise known as prescription painkillers, are primarily used in medicine for pain relief. However, many opioids also induce a euphoric high in the user, resulting in improper recreational use and addiction. Though they can be prescribed by a medical professional, opioids can also be illegally produced and obtained.

Prescribed opioid medications can include codeine, fentanyl, morphine, oxycodone, hydromorphone, and medical heroin. They can appear in many different forms, including pills, syrups, skin patches, nasal sprays, liquids and suppositories.

Effects of Opioid Use

Short term: drowsiness, constipation, impotence in men, nausea and vomiting, euphoria, difficulty breathing, which can lead to or worsen sleep apnea, headaches, dizziness and confusion, which can lead to falls and fractures.

Long term: increased tolerance, substance use disorder or dependence, liver damage, infertility in women, worsening pain (known as “opioid-induced hyperalgesia”), life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in babies born to mothers taking opioids.

 

HEROIN

Heroin is one of the most powerful, dangerous, and highly addictive opioid drugs available. Of all the people that try heroin for the first time, 1 in 4 users will become addicted to the drug. When injected into a vein, heroin has two to three times the effect as a similar dose of morphine.

Heroin gives the user an immediate feeling of euphoria, often within seconds of taking it, that can last for a few hours. The drug typically comes as a brown or white powder and is commonly injected, though it can also be snorted or smoked.

Street names for heroin include H, smack, junk, horse, and dope.

Effects of Heroin Use

Short term: Nausea, vomiting, intense itching, slowed heart function, and slowed breathing which can lead to coma and permanent brain damage.

Long term: Respiratory problems such as pneumonia, infection of the heart lining and valves, decreased liver function, circulatory problems, collapsed veins, consequences from injecting heroin: contracting blood-borne viruses such as HIV or hepatitis, abscesses.

 

METHAMPHETAMINE

Methamphetamine, commonly known as ‘meth’, is a highly addictive drug that targets a user’s central nervous system. Methamphetamine is sometimes prescribed by doctors to treat ADHD, obesity and narcolepsy. Because it is an addictive and dangerous drug that can be misused, it is monitored under the Controlled Substances Act and is listed under Schedule II in the United States.

Meth can be produced by large reputable pharmaceutical companies, or illegally in small meth labs. It can be swallowed, smoked, inhaled or injected, depending on the form it comes in.

Effects of Meth Use

Short term: Reduced appetite, irregular heartbeat, twitching, tremors, blurred vision, hyperactivity, excessive sweating, rapid breathing, increased body temperature, dry mouth and grinding of teeth (leading to ‘meth mouth’).

Long term: Severe tooth decay, loss of teeth, psychosis (paranoia, hallucinations, delirium, or delusions), anxiety, depression, suicide, violent behaviour.

 

BENZODIAZEPINES

Benzos, or benzodiazepines, were once very commonly prescribed psychoactive drugs. However, the propensity for misuse in this class of drugs is high, and, when taken with other drugs such as alcohol or opioids, the risk of fatal overdose drastically increases. Benzos are known depressants that will gradually reduce and slow down brain activity. As a result, the user will begin to feel calm, drowsy, and more relaxed. It is for this reason that benzodiazepines are most commonly prescribed to treat insomnia, anxiety, or panic disorders. Due to their sedative and amnesic properties, they are often viewed to be safe when used in the short-term. Benzodiazepines use is considered “long term” after 2-4 weeks of use. This long-term use comes with a risk of dependence as well as cognitive or memory impairments.

The overuse and misuse of benzodiazepines is widespread. In 2012, 4.4% of Canadians over the age of fifteen were facing a substance use disorder and only a fraction of them were receiving supportive, evidence-based treatment and care. Elsewhere, in the United States, over 94 million prescriptions for benzodiapines were filled in 2012. Many people using Benzodiazepine are unaware that the side effects they are experiencing are directly related to the drug use itself and can face multiple misdiagnoses. Additionally, due to the way that the drug impedes its users capacity to retain information, its use can also interfere with essential psychology therapies.

EFFECTS OF BENZODIAZEPINES USE

While not all patients will experience these (or any) side effects, it is important to notice them as they arise.

Short term: Drowsiness, dizziness, decreased concentration, lack of coordination and reflexes, decreased libido, increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, lack of balance, digestion issues, sleep apnea, neuropathy, pins and needles sensations, sleep impairment and erectile problems in men.

Long term: Drug dependence, cognitive impairment, personality changes, sleep problems, headaches, nausea, social deterioration, anxiety, depression, memory loss, slurred speech, muscle weakness, death.

How to support someone with an addiction to Benzodiazepines

When someone discontinues their use of benzodiazepines, the withdrawal process can be very challenging and requires compassionate and patient support. Users are encouraged to slowly taper their use of the drug so as to safely and effectively manage withdrawal symptoms. During this time, users are highly encouraged to explore and learn about helpful coping mechanisms such as relaxation techniques, attending a support group, going for a walk, or even something as simple as calling a friend. Treatment options for those facing addiction to Benzos are available and should be coupled with overall wellbeing support and compassionate care.

Common withdrawal symptoms include headache, muscle tension, feelings of restlessness, pain in the stomach and sleep problems. Possible, albeit less common symptoms of withdrawal include confusion, irritability, depression, anxiety, epileptic seizures, shaking, swelling, hallucinations and a disconnection with reality.

In the face of these withdrawal symptoms, it is essential to be kind, patient, and encouraging to yourself or those important to you. Recognize and accept that this is a process and will take time to complete, but that disuse of the drug is completely possible with the right support system in place.

How to avoid unsafe use of Benzodiazepines

If you or your loved ones are currently using Benzo’s, it is essential to understand and follow your dosage instructions. By taking your pills precisely as prescribed, at the same time each day, you can avoid overuse and the associated risks. If you or your loved ones have a drug or alcohol abuse problem, or have had a drug or alcohol abuse problem in the past, inform your (their) doctor immediately.

GAMBLING ADDICTION

Gambling addiction is a complex problem as it can come in many forms: it isn’t necessarily someone obsessed with slot machines, poker or purchasing lottery tickets. People addicted to gambling are often chasing the emotional high that comes with ‘winning big’, but a gambling addiction can often end in financial ruin as many sufferers do not know when to quit.

Signs that someone is addicted to gambling could include:

• Being secretive about gambling habits
• Gambling despite not having the money to do so
• Asking for money from friends and family to cover unpaid bills or gambling debts
• Exhibiting extreme mood swings, such as being on a ‘high’ one day and withdrawn the next
• Skipping school or work
• Drinking alcohol more frequently, or using other substances to effect the same ‘high’ as gambling

 

Effects of Gambling Addiction

Short term: Restlessness, anxiety, irritability, stress, mood swings.

Long term: Personality changes, sleep problems, weight gain or weight loss, financial ruin, alcohol or substance abuse, social deterioration, depression, suicidal thoughts.

 

SEX ADDICTION

Sex is so prevalent in our society these days that one of the first challenges in helping someone with a sex addiction is defining and diagnosing their problem. Sex addiction can be marked by a loss of control in the addict’s life when it comes to sexual behaviour and habits, despite there being a risk of negative repercussions. A compulsion or obsession with sex can affect a person’s ability to lead a normal life, affecting their personal relationships and even their career.

Effects of Sex Addiction

Short term: Loss of productivity, a heightened risk of contracting STDs, increased chance of substance abuse.

Long term: Breakdown of social relationships, anxiety, depression, run-ins with the law due to possibly having sex in a public place or engaging with prostitutes, financial problems, loss of employment.