 | November 03, 2011
Accommodating dependency in the workplace
For individuals who are dependent on alcohol and/or drugs, that dependency can be more than just a social issue—it can also can impact their performance at work. Drugs and alcohol not only affect people physically, but also mentally because their cognit »Read more |
 | October 13, 2011
Addiction vaccine in the works
Imagine a vaccine against smoking: People trying to quit would light up a cigarette and feel nothing. Or a vaccine against cocaine, one that would prevent addicts from enjoying the drug’s high. Though neither is imminent, both are on the drawing board, »Read more |
 | September 23, 2011
9 key elements of the crime bill
A guide to the federal government's Safe Streets and Community Act - Formally known as The Safe Streets and Communities Act, the bill actually comprises nine smaller bills that were introduced by the Conservative government during its minority rule, but w »Read more |
 | September 23, 2011
The Importance of Family Dinners VII
Compared to teens who have frequent family dinners (five to seven per week), those who have infrequent family dinners (fewer than three per week) are almost four times likelier to use tobacco; more than twice as likely to use alcohol; two-and-a-half times »Read more |
 | September 23, 2011
Can Exercise Cure Substance Abuse?
An intriguing study has been approved as of Sept. 19 that will examine whether exercise is a viable treatment option for stimulant abuse and dependence, specifically for nicotine, alcohol and other addicting substances. Led by Dr. Madhukar Trivedi of »Read more |
 | September 20, 2011
Help is just a step away
This is the last story in a three-part series about narcotics addiction. Some people come for addictions treatment because they want to be there, others are there because someone is encouraging them and some come because they have to. “Most people »Read more |
 | September 20, 2011
VPD officer reveals harsh reality of Downtown Eastside on new blog
Beginning Wednesday, Vancouver Police Department Const. Steve Addison will write about the trials and tribulations of being a beat cop in the crime-ridden neighbourhood in his new blog called “Eastside stories — Diary of a Vancouver beat cop.” »Read more |
 | September 08, 2011
A battle you can't win by yourself: Veteran tough guy says spate of tragic deaths should raise red flags
He's coming in to try to make the Vancouver Canucks on a tryout contract and he insists his mind is right and he's ready to resume his career after his battle with alcoholism and drug addiction. Thursday he shared his own insight into this spate of tragic »Read more |
 | September 08, 2011
Harvest House operator is keeping promise he made to God
Originally from Toronto, his first exposure to the maritimes was his arrival in Dorchester Penitentiary to serve a seven-year prison term. Just 21, he felt that his life was "over". He was suicidal, and sitting in a lock-up unit. "It was just the darkest »Read more |
 | August 25, 2011
Addiction and chronic pain in the workplace: Part 1
Approximately 10% of employees experience a substance use disorder: Addiction, mental illness, unhealthy lifestyles…employee disability can stem from a number of causes. Workplace absences related to these disabilities place a significant burden »Read more |
 | August 23, 2011
New addiction treatment option
Dehcho Health and Social Services Authority is launching a pilot project that will give people seeking treatment for drug and alcohol addictions a new option. The Matrix program began in Fort Providence on Aug. 15 and will start in Fort Simpson on Sept. 2 »Read more |
 | August 04, 2011
Women who experience gender-based violence have higher incidence of anxiety, substance use disorders
Women who reported experiencing gender-based violence, such as rape, sexual assault, intimate partner violence and stalking, had an associated higher lifetime prevalence of mental health disorders, dysfunction and disability, according to a study in »Read more |
 | July 12, 2011
Rethinking Addiction’s Roots, and Its Treatment
There is an age-old debate over alcoholism: is the problem in the sufferer’s head — something that can be overcome through willpower, spirituality or talk therapy, perhaps — or is it a physical disease, one that needs continuing medical treatment »Read more |
 | July 12, 2011
Raise bar on drinking guidelines to avoid cancer risk, CMAJ urges
OTTAWA — Ponder this the next time you're at the pub or pouring a glass of Pinot Grigio.Plenty of countries have set limits for how much alcohol you should drink, from 14 pints a week for men in Ireland to half that for women in the United States. Whate »Read more |
 | July 09, 2011
Private facility offers residential treatment in rural setting
Much like a romantic getaway, Cedars is a cozy cluster of buildings nestled in among 26 hectares of rolling treed landscape. But this is not a place to go to escape. People here are doing the opposite -they are facing their troubles head on. »Read more |
 | July 09, 2011
Help isn't there, say harm reduction advocates
Harm reduction has long been touted as a way to reduce the problems associated with street-level drug and alcohol abuse, but opponents argue that governments' increasing reliance on the strategy merely sweeps problems under the carpet. »Read more |
 | July 09, 2011
Fighting addiction: Public vs. private treatment: the hard road to recovery
If ever there's been a clear example of two-tiered health care in B.C., it's in treating alcoholism and drug addiction.Someone who can write a cheque or shoehorn $18,000 to $20,000 onto a credit card can be checked into one of about half a dozen private »Read more |
 | July 08, 2011
Adult relationships can curb drug abuse
Compassionate parenting and proactive counseling about youth drug abuse — including getting high on cold medicine — is urged by a local youth clinician.Reg Fleming , of Vancouver Island Health Authority’s Discovery Youth and Family »Read more |
 | July 07, 2011
Quest for Vaccines to Treat Addiction
Frustrated by the high relapse rate of traditional addiction treatments, scientists are working on a strategy that recruits the body's own defenses to help addicts kick drug habits. The new approach uses injected vaccines to block some addictive »Read more |
 | July 07, 2011
A B.C. first: Court orders repeat drunk drivers to forfeit their cars
Drinking and driving in B.C. just got more expensive for repeat offenders. Two Victoria-area men with impaired-driving records have lost their vehicles to forfeiture — the first time this has happened in B.C. »Read more |
 | July 05, 2011
Despite The Negative Consequences Of Drinking, Many Refuse To Change Their Behavior
A study by University of Washington psychologists shows some people continue to drink heavily because of perceived positive effects, despite experiencing negative effects such as hangovers, fights and regrettable sexual situations. According to participan »Read more |
 | June 23, 2011
More awareness, understanding needed for mental illness on the job: Conference Board
Mental-health issues are prominent in Canadian workplaces and many workers are hesitant to come forward due to a lack of understanding on the part of their employers, says report from the Conference Board of Canada, which stresses the need for »Read more |
 | June 22, 2011
Decision-Making Processes Blunted In Chronic Marijuana Smokers
Smoking marijuana affects peoples' impulsivity, attention, memory, cognition and decision-making abilities. That's been scientifically proven. Recent research from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center draws on the findings of previously published studies »Read more |
 | June 22, 2011
Intervention program helps get sex workers off the street
»Read more |
 | June 19, 2011
Drug Is Harder to Abuse, but Users Persevere
He had been snorting OxyContin for five years when a new version of the drug, intended to deter such abuse, hit the market last summer. The reformulated pills are harder to crush, turning instead into a gummy substance that cannot be easily snorted, injec »Read more |
 | June 19, 2011
Parents' behaviour 'can influence teen drinking'
Children who see their parents drunk are twice as likely to regularly get drunk themselves, a survey of young teenagers has suggested. Poor parental supervision also raises the likelihood of teenage drinking, said the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. »Read more |
 | June 19, 2011
Making money from misery in Surrey
Rogue recovery houses prey on the addicted in Surrey – and fingers are being pointed straight at the province. Nobody knows for sure just how many drug and alcohol recovery houses are operating in Surrey. Some estimates run as high as 200, »Read more |
 | April 13, 2011
Many cancers avoidable with less drinking: study - Lack of warning labels in Canada 'scandalous'
Too much drinking was also blamed for seven per cent of breast cancers in German women and 28 per cent of colorectal cancers in Spanish men, the results show. »Read more |
 | April 08, 2011
Addictions treatment centre plans moving ahead
The Atikokan Addictions Committee will move ahead with plans to build an addictions treatment centre there after results from a recently-launched survey show there is a need for one in Rainy River District. “There’s a lot of work involved, »Read more |
 | April 04, 2011
'Drug court works,' says graduate:Treatment pilot program funded for another year
Calgary's successful drug treatment court pilot project has been granted another year of provincial funding, but the T-shirt Darren Petersen wears says it all: »Read more |
 | April 04, 2011
B.C. pioneers new alcoholism strategy
British Columbia is the first province to formally recognize alcohol addiction as a chronic medical condition, a move aimed at improving treatment. As of Friday, the new policy emphasizes preventive measures and gives family doctors more time »Read more |
 | March 29, 2011
Phoenix legacy offers hope: Addict first to turn life around with program
Not so long ago, Alan was homeless -a thief and addict in the throes of a drug habit that has already cost him his job and his family. He was a familiar figure in the Downtown Eastside. One judge familiar with his rap sheet had sternly told him, »Read more |
 | March 29, 2011
REAL Women to intervene in Vancouver drug injection site case
OTTAWA (CCN)—REAL Women of Canada has been granted leave to intervene before the Supreme Court of Canada in the Vancouver drug injection site case to be argued May 11. The pro-family, pro-life women’s organization is the only »Read more |
| March 24, 2011
Docs applaud as abused medication moved behind counter
B.C.’s top docs are cheering London Drugs’ decision last week to yank 28 cold medications behind pharmacy counters in its Duncan store. The store’s move, until further notice, prevents youths from buying or stealing over-the-counter pills and syrups »Read more |
 | March 18, 2011
Faith groups commit to ending Edmonton homelessness
Providing that support is the idea behind the new Welcome Home program, which brought more than 20 Edmonton faith communities together Thursday morning in Zeidler Hall in the Citadel Theatre. Leaders from 22 religious traditions — Christian »Read more |
 | March 17, 2011
Parents Important For Keeping Adolescents Off Alcohol
Parents who are both present and engaged are the very best way of preventing teenagers from consuming large quantities of alcohol. Adolescents who smoke, stay out with their friends and have access to alcohol from their parents, for example »Read more |
 | March 14, 2011
Females Get More Hooked Onto Cocaine And Find Quitting It More Difficult Than Males
Scientists have found that females appear to become dependent on cocaine more easily than males, and they also find it much more difficult to quit. An article published in Biology of Sex Differences demonstrated this position in an animal experiment. »Read more |
 | February 28, 2011
New addiction and mental health beds will improve access
18 new beds in Medicine Hat, 16 new beds in Fort McMurray - Edmonton... The Province has committed to opening 34 new beds dedicated to helping people with addictions and mental health issues in Medicine Hat and Fort McMurray, with funding »Read more |
 | February 28, 2011
Canadians back tougher sentences for drug dealers: Norlock
TRENT HILLS - Northumberland-Quinte West MP Rick Norlock said he's confident a majority of Canadians support his government's efforts to get tough on drug traffickers by making minimum sentences mandatory. »Read more |
 | February 10, 2011
The anatomy of addiction
When Philip (whose name has been changed to protect his identity) visited an Ottawa emergency room for an infected tooth, he didn’t realize he would spend the next eight months wondering if he was now addicted to the Percocet he had been prescribed. »Read more |
 | February 10, 2011
CRACK: Drug fuels crime wave
It is a scourge on our city, what cops say is the driving force behind most petty and property crimes and a common factor among numerous murders on our streets. It is estimated to cost Alberta millions annually in related health care expenditures, »Read more |
 | February 10, 2011
CRACK: Cops strike back
While judges battle addiction in court, cops are waging their own wars on the street. Behind a small mound of hundreds of tiny rocks and thousands in cash seized last week, Sgt. Mark Hatchette said the war on crack has reached a turning point »Read more |
 | February 08, 2011
Addicts using doctors as dealers
CALGARY – When most hear prescription drug abuse, they think of pain killers like oxycontin and Percocets – but in reality, those drugs are actually difficult to obtain. There is another class of drugs so commonly prescribed that accessing them has be »Read more |
 | January 31, 2011
Crack cocaine seductive, deadly
Lisa's partner in crack, »Read more |
 | January 26, 2011
Give me shelter and alcohol?
Wet shelters that dole out alcohol to people with drinking problems and complexes with safe injection sites should be considered in developing Victoria's social housing system, a new policy paper says. Standalone needle exchanges and safe »Read more |
| January 24, 2011
Genetically Targeted Medication Shows Great Promise In Treating Alcohol Addiction
For the first time in alcohol addiction research, UVA investigators have successfully treated alcohol-dependent individuals with medication that is tailored specifically to match their genetic profile. »Read more |
 | January 20, 2011
Filling prescriptions and offering hope to addicts
BRACEBRIDGE — For Alex it all started with a nondescript bottle in his parents’ medicine chest. It nearly ended with him lying on a gurney in a Nova Scotia hospital, his body failing from years of opiate abuse. »Read more |
 | January 17, 2011
Retailers urged to help prevent meth labs
The new program will see officers visit retailers who want to participate to train staff about watching for suspicious individuals who might buy ingredients for manufacturing methamphetamine. Police will also help retailers find additional ways to help »Read more |
 | January 17, 2011
Hand sanitizers latest danger to addicts
Salter, who works for the AIDS Society of Kamloops, said he has been finding empty hand-sanitizer containers in alleys and along the banks of the Thompson River — and seeing signs in his clientele that they are drinking it. Salter explained the sanitize »Read more |
 | January 06, 2011
Village of Hope offers second chance to those with addictions
Andrew Vahi may be the son of a preacher, but for years he struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, unsure of his path in life. But after hitting rock bottom, Vahi enrolled in a bible college in Eston, Sask.I needed a change and that was a big turning »Read more |
 | January 04, 2011
The Effects Of Spirituality In Alcoholics Anonymous On Alcohol Dependence
New research shows that attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings may increase spirituality and help decrease frequency and intensity of alcohol use. New research shows that as attendance of AA meetings increase, so do the participants spiritual beliefs, »Read more |
| January 04, 2011
Key doctor says Suboxone more effective than methadone for addicts
Dr. Lindy Lee, director of Health Sciences Centre's addiction unit, said Suboxone is a far better option than methadone to treat opiate addiction in teens and young adults, as it comes with fewer side-effects, it's easier to wean them off and »Read more |
 | January 04, 2011
Fighting addiction in the South Asian community
There is an urgent need to develop “culturally appropriate interventions? for such addicts, Sandhu recently told a conference on addiction issues hosted at the Surrey campus of Kwantlen Polytechnic University. »Read more |
 | December 24, 2010
PROVINCE PURCHASES BALDY HUGHES TREATMENT CENTRE
The future looks a lot brighter for the Baldy Hughes Addiction Treatment Centre and Therapeutic Community after the province invested $3 million to purchase the 26-hectare (65-acre) property that is home to the residential treatment program. »Read more |
 | December 16, 2010
Program aids the mentally ill, addicts
Through the efforts of a handful of staff from area service agencies and a tireless crown attorney, people with addiction problems are getting real help. Crown attorney Jodi Whyte was handed the task of creating a program that did more »Read more |
 | December 16, 2010
Anger and Addiction: when their paths meet
Anger is a natural, human emotion. Our ability to feel anger is built into our bodies. It is a signal to us that something is wrong and it gives people around us the indication that we are experiencing some kind of distress. »Read more |
 | December 16, 2010
Binge Eating Disorder: An Overlooked Eating Disorder
I have battled with my weight for many years. As a chubby young child, my family frequently commented about my size and teased me about my »Read more |
 | December 15, 2010
Giving Up Smoking Linked To Greater Happiness And Elevated Mood
It appears to be a myth that giving up smoking most likely makes you miserable. Brown University researchers found that those who were in the process of quitting smoking were never happier. Their study appears in an article in the journal Nicotine & Tobac »Read more |
 | December 15, 2010
Alcohol And Cancer, Know Your Limit
When raising your glass at this year's holiday toast, choose your beverage wisely, say experts at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. If adults wish to drink alcohol, they should select drinks low in calories and alcohol content to limit ca »Read more |
 | December 15, 2010
More B.C. drivers are drunk or stoned on the road
A new province-wide survey suggests that the number of British Columbians getting seriously drunk -- or high -- before driving is on the rise. The Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse conducted roadside surveys of more than 2,800 drivers in five B.C. »Read more |
 | December 10, 2010
Alcohol And Romantic Relationships: A Good Or Bad Mix?
Drinking plays an important and sometimes unexpected role from one day to the next in young couples' romantic relationships, according to a new study by University at Buffalo and University of Missouri researchers. The study extends past research by showi »Read more |
 | November 18, 2010
Research offers hope for treatment of cocaine addiction
In one study, a common beta blocker, propranolol, currently used to treat hypertension and anxiety, has shown to be effective in preventing the brain from retrieving memories associated with cocaine use in animal-addiction models, according to »Read more |
 | November 17, 2010
Gambling linked to substance abuse, suicide attempts in Ontario students
A new study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health shows some 29,000 Ontario middle and high school students report behaviours linked with problem gambling. Dr. Robert Mann, the study's lead researcher, says close to three per cent of students »Read more |
 | November 15, 2010
Low-barrier housing: Crime rates went down around successful project where residents get safety, stability
John Warnock wandered around the Balmoral Hotel on Wednesday morning, picking up bits of trash, taking in the sunshine and meeting some of his new neighbours who strolled up and down Haliburton Street. His eyes were mostly focused on »Read more |
 | November 15, 2010
Drug counsellor battles for awareness
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Bryne Richards, a drug counsellor at the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre, is fighting a war to bring awareness to addictions. »Read more |
 | October 24, 2010
Love or cocaine: Choose your pain killer
Passionate feelings of love can provide amazingly effective pain relief, similar to painkillers or street drugs such as cocaine, according to a new study from Stanford University.“It turns out that the areas of the brain activated by intense love are th »Read more |
 | October 24, 2010
Women kick drugs with horsemanship
Edmonton's Hope Mission is using horses to give inner-city women a leg up on beating drug and alcohol addictions.The unique therapy teaches women how to win control over their lives by first connecting with and managing their mount. »Read more |
 | October 24, 2010
You May Be a Drug Supplier Without Knowing It
MIAMI, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- America has a drug problem and the primary source of these abused drugs is the family medicine cabinet. In fact, the supplier just might be...you. Every day, more than 4,000 young people begin experimenting with prescription »Read more |
 | October 24, 2010
Research Targets New Drugs To Treat Addictions
Cytisine is an alkaloid found in some plants such as the golden rain acacia, Cytisus laburnum. It is the key ingredient in a smoking cessation product sold in Europe. But until now, Rahman said, no one had looked at cytisine's potential in treating alcoho »Read more |
 | October 24, 2010
Treatment centers give addicts another chance
A doctor once told Penny’s mom to forget she ever had a daughter. Penny is 23, a former cheerleader from Oklahoma City and a heroin addict. She’s been through hell. Mom has too. “I wanted to die, because I couldn’t see myself clean and I couldn’ »Read more |
 | October 19, 2010
Longer-lasting options to treat drug addiction
WASHINGTON -- New treatments for addiction to heroin or narcotic painkillers promise longer-lasting relief that may remove some day-to-day uncertainty of care: A once-a-month shot is now approved and a six-month implant is in the final testing phase. »Read more |
| October 19, 2010
Mount Sinai researchers discover why cocaine is so addictive
Mount Sinai researchers have discovered how cocaine corrupts the brain and becomes addictive. These findings—the first to connect activation of specific neurons to alterations in cocaine reward—were published in Science on October 15. The results may »Read more |
 | October 18, 2010
Mechanism involved in addictions and some forms of obesity discovered in U of A lab
A researcher from the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta has discovered a mechanism underlying some forms of obesity and addictions which could lead to a treatment for both diseases. When a hungry animal finds food in the wild, »Read more |
 | October 18, 2010
Sending a credible drugs message
The greatest flaw in Australia's War on Drugs strategy is that it treats the possession and use of illicit substances like cocaine and cannabis as a criminal justice issue instead of it being seen for what it clearly is - a matter that is more appropriate »Read more |
 | September 27, 2010
Alcohol and employees are a poor mix
Each year, around this time, I dedicate a column to the topic of the heightened risk of injuries resulting from alcohol consumption at work-related events. While accidents arising out of these circumstances are seemingly few, the ramifications can be »Read more |
| September 27, 2010
Study reveals stress hormone impacts on alcohol recovery
Scientists at the University of Liverpool have found that high levels of a stress hormone in recovering alcoholics could increase the risk of relapse. The study showed that cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal gland in response to stress, is »Read more |
 | September 23, 2010
Queen's team finds area of brain that controls impulsive behaviour
A Queen's University team has found impulsive behaviours are less a result of personality than a failure of memory and suggests new avenues in the diagnosis and treatment of such destructive disorders as addictions to drugs, alcohol and gambling. »Read more |
 | September 23, 2010
Recovering from addiction: A message of hope
“This is probably the best birthday gift I ever had,? said the automotive industry worker, who’s on work leave during recovery from an extended addiction to a cocktail of drugs that included cocaine. Suffering from low self-esteem, he saw himself »Read more |
 | September 17, 2010
Community court shows encouraging results on second anniversary
Vancouver's Downtown Community Court started on Sept. 10, 2008, and has now marked its second anniversary. Fifteen justice, health and social service agencies work together in the courthouse to try to address criminal behaviour in a different manner »Read more |
 | September 14, 2010
A look at the role of methadone clinics
It would be unfortunate if a therapy program for a particular human disease is singled out as a threat to the community. Lepers rang bells giving people a chance to scatter for fear of contracting leprosy. AIDS victims were barred from restaurants. »Read more |
 | September 13, 2010
Ageing Drug Users Are Increasing And Facing Chronic Physical And Mental Health Problems
Health and social services are facing a new challenge, as many illicit drug users get older and face chronic health problems and a reduced quality of life. That is one of the key findings of research published in the September issue of the Journal of »Read more |
 | September 09, 2010
Brain mechanism linked to relapse after cocaine withdrawal
Addictive drugs are known to induce changes in the brain's reward circuits that may underlie drug craving and relapse after long periods of abstinence. Now, new research, published by Cell Press in the September 9 issue of the journal Neuron, uncovers »Read more |
 | September 08, 2010
Ritalin improves brain function, task performance in cocaine abusers
A brain-scanning study conducted with collaborators from Stony Brook University, reveals that an oral dose of methylphenidate, commonly known as Ritalin, improves impaired brain function and enhances cognitive performance in people who are addicted to co »Read more |
 | September 08, 2010
Addict found life on the school side of the street
The lowest point in Damon McCredie's life came in his 20s, when the drug-addicted east Vancouver man was in jail and sobriety forced him to recognize the jarring bleakness of his life. »Read more |
 | September 07, 2010
Legalise drugs and a worldwide epidemic of addiction will follow
The debate between those who dream of a world free of drugs and those who hope for a world of free drugs has been raging for years. I believe the dispute between prohibition and legalisation would be more fruitful if it focused on the appropriate degree »Read more |
| September 03, 2010
OxyContin worries misplaced: pain experts
Ontario's new strategy to restrict inappropriate use of opioid painkillers like OxyContin could discourage doctors from prescribing them when needed, leaving patients with chronic pain to suffer needlessly, pain experts say. »Read more |
 | September 02, 2010
Addict aims to end the misery of prescription drug
CAMBRIDGE — Chris Sutherland wasn’t worried when he started snorting OxyContin regularly as a teenager. Already an experienced drug user after experimenting with everything he could get his hands on, he knew the prescription painkiller — often »Read more |
 | September 01, 2010
Study Identifies Risk Factors For Painkiller Addiction And Links The Addiction To Genetics
A new Geisinger study begins to unlock the puzzle of painkiller (opioid) addiction why some people are more likely to become addicted than others. Geisinger investigators have found that patients with four common risk factors have a significantly higher »Read more |
 | September 01, 2010
Our drug priorities need to change
It’s the abuse of prescription drugs which kills hundreds of Canadians annually. Whether it’s because of ongoing pain, depression or the urge to get high, more and more people are heading to their doctors — not the neighbourhood pusher — for a fix »Read more |
 | August 31, 2010
Holes in mental health, addictions care ‘catastrophic’
“Because they didn’t get help, they showed how the results of this were catastrophic for themselves, their family and community. Listening to (these stories) was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.? »Read more |
 | August 25, 2010
Treat addicts like patients... not criminals
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, the former president of the Royal College of Physicians, said that taking a fresh look at drug laws could help to slash crime rates, improve health and save public money. Writing for The Sun, he reveals the reasons behind his »Read more |
| August 25, 2010
Old Vancouver motor hotel gets new life as part of homelessness experiment
VANCOUVER — Downtown Vancouver’s old Bosman’s Motor Hotel is once again filling up fast. Not with the road-weary travellers of earlier days, however, but with people whose paths in life have led them, wearily, to the streets. »Read more |
 | August 20, 2010
Eight great things about cancer [Gasp!]
It’s hard to describe what it feels like when you’re told you have cancer and probably won’t make it. I’ve heard some people with cancer say they were flooded with feelings of disbelief and fear. But for me it felt more like I’d been ejected fro »Read more |
| August 20, 2010
Decriminalize heroin and cocaine, says top U.K. doctor
A debate over the decriminalization of heroin and cocaine has erupted again in Great Britain after a private statement by the one-time head of the Royal College of Physicians was leaked to a drug-reform campaign group and the media. »Read more |
 | August 20, 2010
Drug addicts who refuse treatment face losing benefits
Telegraph.co.uk The Home Office is considering some form of ''financial benefit sanction'' for claimants who fail to address their drug or alcohol dependency, the BBC said. It would mark the revival of a scheme planned by the previous Labour »Read more |
 | August 16, 2010
Thinking the unthinkable
Amid drug-war weariness, Felipe Calderón calls for a debate on legalisation: Though several former Latin American leaders have spoken out in favour of legalisation, and many politicians privately support it, Mr Calderón became the first incumbent presid »Read more |
 | July 25, 2010
New Downtown Eastside vision: Homes, decriminalized drugs, treatment
Vancouver could lead the world by transforming the Downtown Eastside into a community where everyone has a home, drug treatment is available on demand and drugs are decriminalized, according to a vision created by the Carnegie Community Action Project. »Read more |
 | July 23, 2010
Why Do So Many Trauma Survivors Develop Addictions?
The impact of psychological trauma on mental health has been under-estimated. Clinical experience and a growing body of research is linking trauma to chronic depression, bidpolar disorder, anxiety disorders… »Read more |
 | July 21, 2010
A ONE-OF-A-KIND FAMILY ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE TO BE BUILT IN PRINCE ALBERT
The Ministry of Health has approved a funding agreement with the Prince Albert Parkland Regional Health Authority for the construction and operation of a family treatment centre that will allow families to stay together while receiving addiction treatment »Read more |
 | July 15, 2010
Harvest House in New Brunswick opens door when others have closed
For the past 13 years, Cal Maskery, founder and executive director of Harvest House, along with the board of directors and staff, have been breathing new life into people who considered themselves hopeless, people with homelessness issues and »Read more |
 | July 14, 2010
A Closer Look: How Ecstasy harms
The drug, popular at raves, can make users feel sharp. But that doesn't make it safe. It's not easy to put numbers on how often Ecstasy causes death — sometimes other drugs are involved, sometimes drug testing isn't done. A study in England, published »Read more |
 | July 13, 2010
Traffickers love their banks!
Mexican drug cartels use international financial institutions to launder money with surprisingly good co-operation. »Read more |
 | July 13, 2010
African heroin addicts inject each other's blood: report
A new report chronicles a disturbing trend in African cities called 'flashblood' addicts injecting another's blood into their own veins to feed off their heroin high. In a continent already plagued with AIDS and hepatitis, this technique poses the higher »Read more |
 | July 09, 2010
EDGEWOOD TREATMENT CENTRE leads the way once more in support of children!
The new program is called “Bounce Back?. With the support and training from the Betty Ford Treatment Centre in California, EDGEWOOD is excited to be the first treatment centre in Canada to launch this Educational Support Program for children ages 7-12 »Read more |
 | July 07, 2010
New therapies, drugs offer hope to meth addicts
»Read more |
| July 05, 2010
Victoria court offers new hope for addicts
Offenders must agree to supervision: The Victoria Integrated Court is not a new or separate court, but a new way of dealing with people who would traditionally have been housed in institutions, explains provincial court judge Ernie Quantz. »Read more |
 | July 02, 2010
When your co-worker has a problem
At first, you chalked up the sudden mood swings to your co-worker's quirky personality. But now that he's missing client meetings and coming back from the bathroom glassy-eyed, you're starting to wonder. Like so many social ills, substance abuse can »Read more |
 | July 02, 2010
Rehab centers see bankers driven to drink
»Read more |
 | June 28, 2010
Sex Addiction in the Therapeutic Spotlight
Russell Forrest addresses the 100 or so people assembled in the conference room: »Read more |
 | June 28, 2010
Gambling – The Hidden Addiction
Most people know the dangers of drugs and alcohol, particularly when they lead to addiction. Teachers, families, the media and our government have provided these awareness messages. We have all been exposed to ‘say no to drugs' campaigns and »Read more |
 | June 28, 2010
Are Eating Disorders Addictions?
Researchers, clinicians, and those affected have long noted the similarities between eating disorders and addictions. Behaviours such as self-starvation, frequent bingeing and purging, or compulsive ... »Read more |
 | June 28, 2010
Indian reservations on both U.S. borders become drug pipelines
Like any young man on the Tohono O'odham Indian reservation on the border with Mexico, Clayton Antone can reel off the going rate for smuggling a load of marijuana into the U.S. »Read more |
 | June 24, 2010
Ignoring stress leads recovering addicts to more cravings
Recovering addicts who avoid coping with stress succumb easily to substance use cravings, making them more likely to relapse during recovery, according to behavioral researchers. »Read more |
 | June 23, 2010
The New Cocaine Cowboys
The headlines from Mexico are alarming: Former presidential candidate kidnapped; U.S. consular official gunned down in broad daylight; Arizona rancher murdered by Mexican drug smugglers. Mexico is in the midst of a battle against powerful drug cartels, »Read more |
 | June 20, 2010
CHANNAH - Rehab resort where everyone's a winner
The location is a secret, but politicians, sports stars, bankers and even ordinary people are curing their addictions at a special rehabilitation centre called Channah. They have no entourages with them and shun press coverage because that's how they want »Read more |
 | June 18, 2010
Drug bill attacks problem at its source
Anyone caught with ingredients used to create crystal meth and ecstasy may soon be charged with a criminal offence. Changes to the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act to make that happen received unanimous approval in the House of Commons this week. »Read more |
 | June 17, 2010
Addicts vs. addiction
Treatment programs mix detox, counselling and hand holding. People need emotional and medical support during the gruelling process, says Catherine Cosgrove, clinical director of a Godmanchester, Que., treatment centre. Heritage Home offers medication »Read more |
| June 17, 2010
How crack works
Crack cocaine makes you feel like a new man; the only problem is the new guy wants more cocaine. That maxim, part of a 1990s public service campaign in the United States, conveys a hard truth: crack delivers an intense, but brief high that can trigger »Read more |
 | June 08, 2010
Study finds poker players using drugs to enhance performance
A Nova Southeastern University study recently presented at a national conference found that 80 percent of poker players around the world reported using drugs and other substances to enhance their performance in poker. Poker players are using drugs »Read more |
 | May 27, 2010
A second chance for people addicted to drugs - Methadone treatment program
Fred Chaytor is a firm believer in giving second chances, especially when it comes to people who are addicted to drugs. The owner/operator of Shoppers Drug Mart in Carbonear believes »Read more |
 | May 27, 2010
Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana
Contrary to the beliefs of those who advocate the legalization of marijuana, the current balanced, restrictive, and bipartisan drug policies of the United States are working reasonably well and they have contributed to reductions in the rate of marijuana »Read more |
 | May 26, 2010
Hanley Center Acquires the East Coast's First SPECT Scanner to Treat Addiction
Groundbreaking Images Demonstrate That Addiction Is A Brain Illness; Helps Predict Patient Relapse: »Read more |
 | May 19, 2010
Online Video Gaming: When Virtual Life Takes Over
The image is not an uncommon one, an adolescent boy hunched over his computer in the middle of the night, his room in disarray, pale, and dishevelled, eyes red after staring at his computer screen for the past 10 hours. »Read more |
 | May 18, 2010
Low brain serotonin transporter levels in ecstasy users
Levels of the serotonin transporter are low in the brains of users of ecstasy, according to a US National Institute of Drug Abuse-funded study by Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) publish »Read more |
 | May 16, 2010
Special Investigation: Why ARE so many doctors addicted to drink or drugs?
Disturbing new research reveals that one in six doctors has been hooked on alcohol or drugs. How has this happened - and what are the implications? 'Doctors are taught to be decisive and they are treated with respect,' he says. 'So to ask for help, »Read more |
 | May 16, 2010
Drinking and driving can be stopped
The problem is that the amount of alcohol each person can consume and be legally allowed to drive is very different. Factors like gender, time, food and number of drinks all play a role in the blood alcohol level. This means that some people can »Read more |
 | May 15, 2010
Senior addictions increasing
Addictions in seniors usually start slowly as people deal with losses, changes in health, and memory loss. Loneliness, chronic pain and physical changes can also trigger an addiction. “People may realize what is happening but not be willing to »Read more |
 | May 10, 2010
Drugs Don't Discriminate!
During Brett's teenage years, pot, mushrooms, crank and LSD were his riding companions. Since going sober at the age of 20, Brett has worked as a wilderness instructor at a recovery center for teens, and traveled the world. At 32, he is an author and... »Read more |
 | May 08, 2010
Protect your neighbourhood from illegal drugs
Ask any group of people what they want from their neighbourhood and they will likely tell you the same things: a place with good neighbours and the ability to feel safe and secure. These essential elements of a good neighbourhood can quickly »Read more |
| May 01, 2010
Addiction Doesn’t Discriminate? Wrong
The phrase “addiction doesn’t care? is not meant to remind us that addiction casts a long shadow — everyone knows that. Rather, it is supposed to suggest »Read more |
 | April 28, 2010
Bellwood Alumni Testimonies
Alumni share their success stories about beginning their road to recovery at Bellwood and how their lives have changed for the better. »Read more |
 | April 26, 2010
The Chinese laboratories where scientists are already at work on the new 'meow meow'
In a filthy Shanghai laboratory, chemists make batches of mephedrone - and a new incarnation of the 'plant food' linked to the deaths of British teenagers. Never heard of the drugs Eric-1 and Eric-2? That's the point. By Mike Power in London and Simon Par »Read more |
 | April 15, 2010
Just what is harm reduction? Is it misunderstood, even misused?
Here is a position statement from the International Harm Reduction Association. Harm reduction refers to policies, programmes and practices that aim to reduce the harms associated with the use of psychoactive drugs in people unable or unwilling to stop. »Read more |
 | April 09, 2010
Recognize the Signs of Addiction
How can you tell if an employee has an addiction? The following behaviours and occurrences could be signs of a substance abuse problem. »Read more |
| April 08, 2010
Douglas Hunter: Parents as pushers
“More and more adults with Asperger’s are experimenting with Cannabis,? it told me. “They are finding cannabis to be effective in the treatment of Anxiety, Depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, Tourettes, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, seizures, »Read more |
 | March 25, 2010
Mephedrone 'spreading as fast as ecstasy in 1980s'
Mephedrone use among young people is spreading as rapidly as ecstasy did when it arrived on the rave scene in the late 1980s, it was claimed yesterday, as the death of a 24-year-old woman became the latest to be linked to the so-called »Read more |
 | March 25, 2010
Employee drinking banned by Crown corporation
The union representing employees at the Insurance Corp. of B.C. says it's ready to fight a company directive that bars employees from drinking alcoholic drinks during the workday, even at lunch. The provincial Crown corporation has issued a directive to i »Read more |
 | March 22, 2010
Announcing a new luxury Treatment Centre in Kelowna, BC!
Combining professional therapy with luxury living that includes gourmet dining, the best of fitness and fun and most important of all, guaranteed safety and anonymity. A great new starting place for the CEO, Lawyer or Judge, Doctor or Business Owner. »Read more |
 | March 22, 2010
Addiction quickly becomes a family affair
“When someone is addicted, whether it is alcohol, street drugs, gambling, or the Internet, it impacts everyone else in the family. Families live in silence, fear and shame,? says Linda Bell, president and CEO of Bellwood Health Services in Toronto. »Read more |
| March 22, 2010
Prescribed medicines: Killers from the chemist
Crucially, they are also central to a tale of addiction that stretches from Hollywood to the east coast. »Read more |
 | March 17, 2010
Dangers of Energy Drinks- Not a Safe Mix for Addiction Recovery
A recent study conducted by Kathleen Miller at the University of Buffalo's Research Institute looked at the behaviours of 795 college students. The results revealed that energy drink consumption was correlated with risky behaviours such as substance use. »Read more |
| March 06, 2010
Brain-behavior disconnect in cocaine addiction
Parts of the brain involved in monitoring behaviors and emotions show different levels of activity in cocaine users relative to non-drug users, even when both groups perform equally well on a psychological test. These results — from a brain-imaging stud »Read more |
 | March 06, 2010
OxyContin more abused than crack: rehab centre
OxyContin, the widely prescribed painkiller, has overtaken crack cocaine as Ottawa's most commonly abused drug, a residential drug treatment centre says. Staff at the city's Harvest House, which has offered a variety of rehabilitation programs for more »Read more |
 | March 04, 2010
Putting an end to the hurt and damage of Sex Addiction
Compulsive use of sex can be as destructive and damaging as any other addiction. Yet the shame and fear of being stigmatized often prevents those with a sex addiction from seeking the help they need. »Read more |
 | February 23, 2010
Treatment is Over. Now What if a Relapse Happens? by A. Thomas McLellan, Ph.D.
Even effectively treated people with addictions will confront unexpected situations after they leave a treatment program and return to their home environment. These situations may produce intense periods of craving to re-use alcohol and other drugs. »Read more |
| February 23, 2010
Is 'Financial Tough Love' the Right Approach for Drug Addicts?
But what if no more money means the child goes without food, threatens to harm themselves or ends up on the streets? Experts advise parents to follow a few key guidelines including giving the child a new set of rules for what's no longer acceptable »Read more |
 | February 23, 2010
Huge rise in prescriptions for strongest painkillers
10 years ago, a million prescriptions for strong opioids were filled, now more than four million. Increasingly, the bathroom cabinets are stocked with painkillers so powerful that one of them, OxyContin (timed-release oxycodone), is known as »Read more |
 | February 22, 2010
Occasional binges may undo alcohol's heart benefits
While research has linked moderate drinking to better heart health, a new study suggests that those benefits disappear when drinkers add the occasional binge to the mix. Pooling data from 14 previous studies of moderate drinkers, researchers found »Read more |
 | February 22, 2010
Binge-drinking most common among young, affluent and tech-savvy people
They're young, highly educated, tech-savvy and ethnically diverse urbanites with fat paycheques, and new research suggests »Read more |
 | February 09, 2010
Alcohol Problems Prevalent in Teens Who Drink With Parents
A new study in the latest issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs says that parents who try to teach responsible drinking by letting their teenagers have alcohol at home may be well intentioned, but they may also be wrong. »Read more |
| February 09, 2010
Study links hormone to addiction, risk-taking
People with high levels of the hormone dopamine in the brain, and low sensitivity to it, tend to be greater risk takers and may be more prone to addictive behavior, drug abuse and gambling, a study has found. Scientists from Denmark and Japan said »Read more |
 | February 09, 2010
Boozing mothers affect babies' response to pain: Study
VANCOUVER — Prenatal exposure to alcohol dulls the pain response in babies, according to a new study from the University of British Columbia. The research, showed that even healthy babies whose mothers drank while they were pregnant were affected by the »Read more |
 | February 09, 2010
Fantasy to Reality on Valentine's Day: Loving Yourself with Healthy Self-Care
Have you ever wondered whose bright idea it was to have those three holidays in a row? For many people, the 3-month period of December through February can be the most difficult and depressing time of the year, and this is especially true for those »Read more |
| February 08, 2010
44 MORE BEDS FOR SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL AND ADDICTED
“Since the 100-bed Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addiction opened in 2008, we have seen that some of the more complex clients require longer-term care and supports before being able to integrate back into the community,? said Falcon. »Read more |
| January 25, 2010
Addiction ignorance making things worse
It has always been amazing to me that so many people consider drug addiction to be a chosen attitude. I can remember the wife of a U.S. president cheerfully commenting, »Read more |
 | January 20, 2010
Tough Love?
Angels is proud to welcome Jason McCarty into private practice in Kelowna. Armed with vast experience both in residential treatment and private practice, Jason is a great addition to our team. Here is one of his first articles titled, Tough Love. »Read more |
 | January 14, 2010
Words used to describe substance-use patients can alter attitudes, contribute to stigma
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers have found that health professionals' answers to questions about a hypothetical patient varied depending on whether he was described as a »Read more |
| January 14, 2010
Doctor: Drug war waged against wrong people
As a physician who treats patients at North America's only safe injection site, Dr. Gabor Mate has no patience for warrior bureaucrats who waste billions and jail thousands trying to curb illegal drug use. »Read more |
 | December 15, 2009
Health care cuts won’t be reversed, says FHA
Mayor Sharon Gaetz, along with councillors Pat Clark and Diane Janzen, met with Fraser Health CEO Nigel Murray and others, to discuss two main issues: the closure of the 10-bed detox unit from CGH, and the elimination of hospital spiritual care workers. »Read more |
| December 13, 2009
Learning to live a normal life
Shane Pacholuk spent last Christmas shivering inside a tent on an empty lot, eating frozen muffins he fished out of a dumpster. The sound of families celebrating in decorated homes nearby was almost unbearable for him to hear. But at least he was sober. »Read more |
 | November 26, 2009
Young Adult Men Receive Specialized Treatment at Betty Ford Center
Its formal name is the Young Adult Track. In Betty Ford Center-speak it’s referred to by its acronym, “YAT.? Whatever it’s called, why does California’s licensed addiction hospital offer specialized treatment for young men, ages 18 to 25? »Read more |
 | November 25, 2009
How addicted are you to the web?
According to the latest metrics from comScore, day-to-day mobile Internet usage in the states doubled over the last year. In January 2008, 10.8 million people visited the mobile Web at least once a day. Now there are some 22.4 million. Most do so looking »Read more |
 | November 20, 2009
Designer drugs can be dangerous, mystery cocktail
Ecstasy and methamphetamines, or speed, which are sold under names such as Coca-Cola, Toyota, NHL, On-Star and Couche-Tarde, are the most popular forms of so-called designer drugs in Quebec, police say. »Read more |
| November 20, 2009
Let's face reality on alcohol use
From Sooke to London to Victoria, our confused and destructive attitudes toward drugs and alcohol have been on display of late. People aren't going to stop drinking. It is, for most, a useful social drug. Used in moderation, it helps people relax and make »Read more |
| November 20, 2009
Hooked: Canada's painkiller problem
Canadians use prescription pills at a higher rate than almost any other nation. Patients are becoming addicts and pills are taking over from heroin as the street drug of choice. So why are voluntary ‘guidelines' for doctors the best the experts can offe »Read more |
 | November 20, 2009
Women to get own place to recover from addictions
A former personal care home in St. Boniface is being converted into an addiction's recovery centre for women and their children. Adele Plett Bartel, manager, said women are reluctant to sign up for a recovery program if it means abandoning their children. »Read more |
 | November 20, 2009
Athletes on performance enhancers more likely to abuse alcohol, other drugs
College athletes who use performance-enhancing substances may be at heightened risk of misusing alcohol and using recreational drugs as well, according to new research in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. The study, of 234 male athletes at one »Read more |
 | October 27, 2009
Looking back, and ahead - Is methadone the only option for addicts?
The results of the North American Opiate Medication Initiative showed that the overall health of the addicts improved, illicit drug use dropped by nearly 70 per cent and the illegal activity and the amount of money spent on drugs dropped dramatically »Read more |
| October 27, 2009
METHADONE MYTHS AND REALITIES
It's time we understood some real truths about the use and value of Methadone in recovery. Those of you who treat Mehadone as just another drug, take heed. Check out the companion article on »Read more |
 | October 25, 2009
What is treatment? Is it a place? Is it a pill? Is it a therapy? Is it a religion?
Mention the word "treatment" in relation to substance use and many people think of long-term residential facilities or detox. In fact, treatment includes both of those options — and a variety of others. Treatment is actually a set of services. »Read more |
 | October 24, 2009
Academic doping on and off campus
I have friends who do drugs like Dex and Adderall to help them study or get homework done,? she said. “The majority of them can do three to four assignments at once and get them done efficiently, but that’s no excuse.? »Read more |
 | October 24, 2009
What's the cost of doing nothing?
Bill Howatt has a simple question on the back of his business card: What's the cost of doing nothing? If you're talking about workers addicted to drugs and alcohol, that cost adds up to $40 billion in Canada. But many employers haven't yet realized how »Read more |
| October 24, 2009
Feelings mixed about student drinking
Alcohol and university may be inseparable to many, but some students are opting out in the name of health, morality and productivity. The desire to socialize and meet new people contributed to his drinking in first year, Lum said. »Read more |
| October 12, 2009
Canadians helping Canadians in the fight against addictions!
Now Canadian residents may support the Betty Ford Society of Canada, a nonprofit organization, to provide financial assistance to Canadian individuals and families who have limited resources. This the toughest season of all. Please wrap one more! »Read more |
 | October 04, 2009
OxyContin cuts trail of local destruction
It can start harmlessly enough with a trip to the doctor for a bad back or a post-surgery prescription for painkillers, but it can lead down a dark and twisting path. The scourge of OxyContin addiction has cut a grim path through large areas of North Amer »Read more |
 | October 04, 2009
Drug tests for exam students 'inevitable'
The spectre of students queuing to provide urine samples before sitting exams is raised today by a scientist who says »Read more |
 | October 04, 2009
'I was a slave to the drug'
In the second of a three-part series on crime in Peterborough, PTW's Todd Vandonk tells the story of one woman's 15 year struggle to beat addiction and how her battle is now being played out with more frequency across Peterborough. »Read more |
| October 04, 2009
Bigger risk of 'hillbilly heroin' in small towns
A new study says residents of B.C.'s smaller towns are at a greater risk of addiction and misuse of prescription drugs, including sedatives and so-called »Read more |
 | October 04, 2009
Study: Half of drug addicts quit after 6 months of treatment, but long-term care needed
About half of heroin and crack cocaine addicts in England's treatment programs quit the drugs after six months, a new study says. Experts warned, however, that the danger of relapse means permanently kicking the habit probably requires ongoing care. »Read more |
 | September 27, 2009
Drug legalization is no solution - it's a disaster waiting to happen
But who does the addict turn to when they want to come off the drug? Not the doctor to whom they are now linked. It is easy to think of how we might better get the drugs to the addict, but much harder to think how we might help users off them when they ha »Read more |
 | September 27, 2009
Taking the Fun Out of Popping Pain Pills
HOW can you get a faster high from sustained-release pain pills like OxyContin? Let me count some of the ways.People have crushed them using bookends, hammers, mortars and pestles, and then snorted the powder, according to doctors who study addiction. »Read more |
 | September 27, 2009
See a drink, have a drink
TORONTO — For the first time, researchers have shown that watching characters knock back a beer or quaff another alcoholic beverage in films, TV shows or advertisements can have an immediate effect on how much viewers imbibe. »Read more |
 | September 16, 2009
Time for a new approach
This bustling village is actually a treatment centre for people living with addiction. Currently, there are 300 guests living and working here on this 80-hectare estate, which covers almost 75 per cent of its own running costs. The team of professionals, »Read more |
| September 04, 2009
Celebrities & painkillers: a love affair?
A prescription for pain medicine following a 2008 plane crash seems to have been the trigger that sent DJ AM spiralling back into an addiction to crack cocaine. The 36-year-old celebrity disc jockey, nee Adam Goldstein, was found dead in his apartment »Read more |
 | September 02, 2009
Betty Ford offers specialized treatment for young men 18 to 25!
Its formal name is the Young Adult Track. In Betty Ford Center-speak it’s referred to by its acronym, “YAT.? Whatever it’s called, why does California’s licensed addiction hospital offer specialized treatment for young men, ages 18 to 25? »Read more |
| August 25, 2009
Tainted cocaine makes dozens ill in B.C.
Dozens of drug users in B.C. have been hospitalized since December because of tainted cocaine being sold on the streets, health officials say. Tests show the cocaine is being cut with Levamisole, a drug used to de-worm livestock. The drug has also served »Read more |
| August 14, 2009
For recovering alcoholics, social, emotional impairments continue even after drinking stops
According to ABC News, a recent Boston-based study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs compared the brain function of a group of former alcoholics with the brain function of people who have »Read more |
| August 12, 2009
Study finds binge drinking can alter brain functioning
Researchers found healthy young university students - meaning those with no alcohol use disorder, drug use, alcohol dependence or associated psychiatric disorders - who engaged in binge drinking required more attentional effort to complete a given task. T »Read more |
 | August 12, 2009
Oilpatch deals with high incidence of alcohol abuse
Substance abuse in the oilpatch reached a fever pitch during the past boom, with substantially higher numbers of oil-and-gas workers calling for help through employer-supported programs than any of their peers across Canada, a new report says. »Read more |
 | August 01, 2009
A LIVING PROBLEM CREATED A DRUG & ALCOHOL PROBLEM
And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing, or situation---some fact of my life---unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or s »Read more |
 | August 01, 2009
Addiction: Beyond the home and into the workplace
Addiction is a serious problem that affects not only personal lives but also workplaces, often damaging careers and threatening the safety and wellbeing of employees. If you have an employee struggling with substance abuse, problem gambling, or... »Read more |
| July 29, 2009
Taking on addictions
Recession sparks move to convert conference centre into rehab program. AFTER 17 YEARS of running one of Atlantic Canada’s leading centres for corporate training, Charles Bower and his partner have turned to drugs and alcohol. No, the lifelong entreprene »Read more |
| July 29, 2009
Alcohol and Trauma: Blood Test Gets to the Truth
People who abuse alcohol often deny doing so, leaving medical personnel in the dark about potentially serious health needs. But even if people withhold this information, a blood test might indicate if they are likely to suffer withdrawal or other »Read more |
 | July 29, 2009
Cannabis 'can cause psychosis in healthy people'
Mary Brett, vice president of Europe Against Drugs, said: "This shows that anyone who is healthy can become psychotic by smoking cannabis. They don't already have to have a mental illness. Healthy people can become psychotic."
»Read more |
| July 29, 2009
Addiction often starts in hospital
Public perception is that illegal street drugs are a bigger problem than prescription-drug misuse, but that's not the reality, says Calgary psychiatrist Dr. Ronald Lim. So many people abuse and are addicted to the drugs found in their medicine cabinets »Read more |
 | July 25, 2009
Sexual addiction has met its match!
Top of the World Treatment Centres in Calgary is offering a 10 day OUTPATIENT sexual addictions treatment program that includes a Continuing Care program follow up. It’s very discrete and confidential; just pick up the phone… »Read more |
 | July 10, 2009
Quit Smoking – Addiction Recovery Retreat
At last a wonderful place to go to quit smoking and enjoy a great summer spot! A Home Away in Kelowna offers the best of both worlds, enjoy the warm sun, fresh water activities, have a lot of fun and find freedom from smoking! »Read more |
 | July 06, 2009
Addicts seeking help face barriers
If more detox and treatment is the answer, it's not an easy one. Ramping up B.C.'s system will take political will, a commitment to long-term funding of facilities and consensus on where to put them. »Read more |
 | July 06, 2009
Would you tell a cancer patient to just 'suck it up'?
These diseases don't only attack the lonely and unsuccessful but they can take successful people and make the lonely and can drive them to living in the streets or the depths of poverty. »Read more |
 | June 09, 2009
Family Recovery From Addiction - 10 Crucial Steps
Families with a loved one who is addicted are hurting families. Pain, fear and frustration come from watching someone they love fall between the cracks, perhaps to be lost forever, possibly to death. Then there is the chaos that addiction brings on the »Read more |
| June 07, 2009
Marijuana May Shrink Parts of the Brain
(HealthDay News) - People who use marijuana for a long time can develop abnormalities in their brains, Australian researchers report. Although growing literature suggests that long-term marijuana use is associated with a wide range of adverse health conse »Read more |
| May 18, 2009
90-Day Treatment Stay the New
It’s one of the oldest truisms in the addiction treatment field: the best friend a patient has in treatment is time. In the words of Dr. Johanna O’Flaherty, Vice President of Treatment Services at the Betty Ford Center, “Ninety days of treatment is »Read more |
 | May 18, 2009
Rehab resort where everyone's a winner
The location is a secret, but politicians, sports stars, bankers and even ordinary people are curing their addictions at a special rehabilitation centre called Channah. A number of well known foreign politicians, sports stars, entertainers, bankers, finan »Read more |
 | May 18, 2009
Methadone Tapering and Addiction Treatment Program
A NEW PROGRAM AT BELLWOOD - Bellwood's new Methadone Tapering and Addiction Treatment Program helps individuals taper off methadone and address their addiction through a comprehensive treatment program. »Read more |
| May 18, 2009
Addiction is a Brain Disease
Overcoming the stigma and discrimination of addiction - A core concept evolving with scientific advances over the past decade is that drug addiction is a brain disease that develops over time as a result of the initially voluntary behaviour of using drugs »Read more |
 | May 18, 2009
The Law of Attraction — the Most Powerful Force in the Universe
Simply the Law of Attraction means that you attract what you think about — whether you want it or not. People who speak most of health, tend to have it and likewise, people who speak mostly of illness, tend to attract it. This is the Law of Attraction a »Read more |
| May 18, 2009
Put patient before the addict
The Manitoba Nurses Union's concern and compassion for the welfare of their members with addictions is understandable, abundantly so for the thousands of Manitobans who struggle with substance abuse and have seen their jobs threatened by the addiction. Li »Read more |
 | May 18, 2009
Cocaine-linked Genes Enhance Behavioural Effects Of Addiction
New research sheds light on how cocaine regulates gene expression in a crucial reward region of the brain to elicit long-lasting changes in behavior. The study provides exciting insight into the molecular pathways regulated by cocaine and may lead to new »Read more |
 | May 18, 2009
'From Stilettos to Moccasins'
A song documenting aboriginal women's journey with addictions will kick off the Elizabeth Fry Society's Rebel With A Cause event today. The song, titled »Read more |
 | May 18, 2009
Smoking Interferes With Recovery From Alcohol-related Brain Damage
A new study has used longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of brain blood flow to show that smoking makes it harder for brain blood flow to recover from long-term heavy drinking. »Read more |
 | May 18, 2009
Denial and Addiction: That Inner Voice that Leads to Self-Destruction
Becoming Aware of the Inner Voice that Leads to Self-Destruction - It is often the underlying dynamic that keeps an addiction active, even when the addict really wants to stop the behaviour. »Read more |
 | May 04, 2009
Acknowledging drug problem a good first step
This city just got a wake up call. How about your town, is it time we got our heads out of the sand? I’m sure there were many who didn’t like what Ellertson had to say and were angered in fact someone would have the gall to point out something negati »Read more |
| April 27, 2009
Methadone a life-saver
»Read more |
| April 27, 2009
Let's be honest about alcohol
Like a stereotypical drunk searching in vain for a bottle that's around here somewhere, it turns out that many Canadians have a hard time understanding exactly what happened to the liquor that they bought. »Read more |
| April 05, 2009
UCI researchers find new way to fight cocaine addiction
UC Irvine pharmacological researchers have discovered that blocking a hormone related to hunger regulation can limit cocaine cravings. Their findings could herald a new approach to overcoming addiction. Led by Shinjae Chung and Olivier Civelli, »Read more |
 | March 24, 2009
Christians unite to deter Olympics sex traffickers
BC already has a problem with sexual exploitation and human trafficking that the influx of upwards of one-million visitors will only exacerbate, says University of British Columbia law professor Benjamin Perrin. »Read more |
 | March 23, 2009
Drug Treatment Courts (DTCs) aim to reduce crime
Drug Treatment Courts (DTCs) aim to reduce crime committed as a result of drug dependency through court-monitored treatment and community service support for offenders with drug addictions. They also aim to reduce the burden of substance abuse on the Cana »Read more |
 | March 20, 2009
The social fabric and five routes to poverty
Why does proper sourcing of a specific cause of someone's poverty matter? Because money injected into a person's bank account alone won't solve poverty. The family of a drug addict will remain in poverty if the user blows much of the income support on the »Read more |
 | March 18, 2009
Make health the foundation for anti-drugs policies
From 1987 to 1997, I was the principal investigator of a large-scale, two-site, collaborative research project involving the treatment of 150 adult male alcohol and drug addicts. »Read more |
 | March 17, 2009
Recovering addicts tell stories in song
Just singing a song may not change the world, but it could help the lives of one group of aboriginal women in treatment for drug and alcohol abuse across Canada. »Read more |
 | February 08, 2009
Addicts 'find less pleasure in life'
Drug addicts find it harder than non-addicts to derive pleasure from everyday life, new Australian research shows. It also showed why threats of punishment, which Dr Lubman calls the »Read more |
 | February 04, 2009
Hi to all of you at Venture Academy!
That's how this Good News letter starts, revealing a successful period for a young teen and her family who found help, recovery and new ways to live at Venture Academy. It's wonderful how it can work! »Read more |
 | January 27, 2009
Middle-class women in grip of cocaine as addiction to 'glamour' drug soars
Middle-class women are in the grip of an alarming epidemic in cocaine use. Drug treatment experts said those seeking help for addiction to cocaine were professionals with well-paid jobs. »Read more |
 | January 20, 2009
Reducing Stigma, Increasing Treatment Options, Saving Lives
The stigma of addiction costs lives. The fear of being labeled as an addict, fired from a job, denied insurance or ousted from a home keeps thousands of addicted people from coming forward. »Read more |
 | January 16, 2009
Manitoba nurses disciplined for substance abuse
WINNIPEG - Lisakowski said nurses are considered at a higher risk of abusing substances than the general public, and that an average of three or four nurses a month seek addiction treatment through the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba. »Read more |
 | January 10, 2009
Wired in the workplace
In the world of rock 'n' roll, drugs were easy to come by, and he helped himself regularly. Further, he indulged frequently at work. It wasn't difficult. He'd just close his office door and do a line of coke. »Read more |
 | January 09, 2009
New treatment works!
A legal painkiller called Dilaudid is more effective in treating serious heroin addiction than methadone therapy, according to a groundbreaking Canadian study. »Read more |
 | January 07, 2009
30 day wait too long?
Sure, while there is probably a good reason for it, it just doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. Here is a person crying out for help only to be told, be a good girl for a month and we'll help you then. »Read more |
 | January 07, 2009
Signs that someone you know may be using drugs
There are times when you can't believe your own eyes. Give yourself a shake, come out of denial and watch for the signs... »Read more |
 | January 02, 2009
What is it?
It is important to recognize that Rapid Opiate Detoxification under Anaesthesia is but one part of a comprehensive, multi-faceted addiction treatment program, and... »Read more |
 | November 23, 2008
Sex Addiction often goes hand in hand with drug and alcohol abuse.
What is it and what can you do about it. There are some real solutions and very understanding and caring professionals who can help. It’s amazing the relief one can get when “coming out? with the right person! »Read more |
 | November 22, 2008
How It Works - Chapter 5 - The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous
Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like, what happened, and what we are like now. If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it -- then you are ready to take certain steps. »Read more |
 | November 22, 2008
What a 12 step meeting may look & feel like.
You're looking for help, but you're afraid there isn't anyone out there who could possibly do what you've done, much less understand and accept you for who you are. Take a breath, and know that your first meeting will be an experience of acceptance and... »Read more |
 | October 05, 2008
It's about drugs, not sentencing
When it comes to fighting crime in this region, and probably across the country, we don't need longer jail sentences. We need effective drug-rehabilitation and crime prevention programs. »Read more |
 | October 05, 2008
Childhood determines addiction, says doctor
Whether or not you'll become an addict later on in life is more or less determined in the first three years after your birth. That's the message, in direct simplicity, from Dr. Gabor Mate. He just might know -- the physician works with some of the worst c »Read more |
 | October 05, 2008
Solutions for the Workplace
Every year workplaces, often unknowingly, pay an enormous cost as a result of the misuse and abuse of alcohol, legal and illegal drugs, and gambling addictions by employees »Read more |
 | September 11, 2008
Harm reduction and abstinence
Much of the problem with the public perception of harm reduction involves the definition of »Read more |
 | June 23, 2008
Alcoholics Anonymous helpful for teens too: study
Teenagers who attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings after being treated for alcohol abuse tend to fare better in the long run compared with those who don't, a new study suggests. »Read more |
 | May 24, 2008
ARE YOU COMPLETELY INSANE!!
Federal Health Minister Tony Clement and Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan revealed on Wednesday the creation of the drug-and-alcohol free treatment centre for female sex workers on two floors of the Roosevelt Hotel. »Read more |
 | April 14, 2008
Solutions for the Workplace
Every year workplaces, often unknowingly, pay an enormous cost as a result of the misuse and abuse of alcohol, legal and illegal drugs, and gambling addictions by employees or their family members. »Read more |
 | April 13, 2008
THE ADDICT NEXT DOOR – SPECIAL FEATURE
Herold Delaney got out of bed each morning and smoked a »Read more |
| April 13, 2008
Stopping alcoholism before it starts; Capital health programs encourage self-help
The extreme consequences of alcohol abuse, such as addiction, car crashes and organ failure, are well known. »Read more |
 | February 09, 2008
Workplace Substance Abuse: Signs & Solutions
Everything human beings do, we do, to make ourselves feel better (from our perspective). People unwittingly become addicts because they want to feel better. No one chooses to become an addict! We can therefore conclude... »Read more |
| February 09, 2008
Who’s keeping secrets now…
It is difficult to trust the policies of a government that keeps its evidence secret. LOVED ones of addicts often make the same complaint: the worst thing is the deception. By hiding their habit from the world, sufferers hurt their families; more to the p »Read more |
 | February 09, 2008
LEGALIZE THIS!!!
Pot-smoking linked to gum disease. »Read more |
| December 15, 2007
Merry Christmas
How it all got started, the real reason for the season, our only hope! »Read more |
| November 20, 2007
How long do alcohol and other drugs such as marijuana, heroin, or cocaine stay in the body?
The amount of time that alcohol or drugs stay in the body depends on several factors. It varies between men and women, and also depends on other factors like body weight and the amount that was drunk or used. »Read more |
| October 01, 2007
Responsibility of Leadership
Our season of rejoicing, reflection, action and love in close intimacy is drawing to its close and it will presently belong to the past. But the impressions and benefits left upon us which we trust will be carried to others, »Read more |
| August 15, 2007
CHRISTIAN WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS
An Angel says, »Read more |
 | July 16, 2007
TYPES OF TREATMENT
Any effective treatment program should take care of an person's physical, psychological, emotional, and social problems. Services that are appropriate for people's age, race, culture, sexual orientation, gender, pregnancy status, and parenting status also »Read more |
 | July 16, 2007
WHAT IS TREATMENT?
Mention the word "treatment" in relation to substance use and many people think of long-term residential facilities or detox. In fact, treatment includes both of those options — and a variety of others. Treatment is actually a set of services. »Read more |
 | July 02, 2007
The ABCs - Addiction in the Family
Addiction is a complex issue. It affects every member of the family and can have a lasting impact on their lives. The effect on family members varies from person to person and family to family. »Read more |
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Pain clinics may require urine tests - Mandate would aim to curb drug abuse
Someday you may have to pee in a cup to get treatment at a pain management clinic. There are serious concerns about the rising problem of abuse of painkillers such as OxyContin, said Dr. Mary Lynch, director of pain management at the »Read more |
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Popping A Pill Can Help Some Alcoholics Curb Drinking
The Cochrane review finds that the medication naltrexone brand names are Depade and ReVia when combined with counseling or interventions like Alcoholics Anonymous, can help cut the risk of heavy drinking in patients who are dependent on alcohol. »Read more |
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Shopping vouchers help addicts stay off crack
Giving drug addicts rewards for staying clean has a 'dramatic' affect on the success of treatment programmes, according to a leading figure in the world of addiction. The Director of the UK 's National Addiction Centre said that he was astonished »Read more |
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Pot's potency against pain possibly poppycock: study
Marijuana's painkilling properties are being called into question by new research that suggests the drug can amplify and prolong pain rather than relieve it. »Read more |
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How We Get Addicted
Scientists have learned more than ever before about how addiction affects the brain, and about a wealth of addictions you may not even know about. »Read more |
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What a Woman Should Know: Alcohol and Other Drugs
Are you concerned about your own substance use or the substance use of a woman close to you? If so, this information and resource guide will help you: »Read more |
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The Inventor of Coca Cola Story
Asa Candler kept struggling unsuccessfully with his addiction to alcohol until he heard a Voice tell him to surrender himself. »Read more |
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Amazing Grace
A violent storm was the turning point in John Newton's life. Motherless at age 6 and sent to sea on his 11th birthday, he soon became a teenage rebel. He was press-ganged into the Navy »Read more |
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Whenever God Shines His Light
I believe that no matter what your faith there is always a higher power guiding us. I know »Read more |
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Warning Signs of Cocaine Addiction and Abuse
Here are some of the warning signs that someone might be using and or abusing cocaine or crack cocaine. »Read more |
