Author name: admincounselling

August 1, 2020 This week’s post is an overview of the overdose crisis. After describing what the crisis is, we discuss three factors that contributed to the current public health emergency: Barriers to health services The increase in opioid prescriptions leading up to the crisis The illegal sales of fentanyl This 8 min TED-Ed video […]

Welcome to the Deltassist Substance Use Services blog. This blog was created during the COVID-19 pandemic to help increase awareness around drug and alcohol use and mental health. Most of the information remains relevant even after the pandemic. July 24, 2020 This week in the Substance Use Blog Series, we are discussing what triggers are,

July 15, 2020 This week’s post reviews the resources available to Delta youth who have questions about substances, are considering reducing the amount of substances they use, or quitting substances all together. This post was promised way back in our very first substance use series blog post (that post on resources for adult residents of

July 10, 2020 As we in British Columbia continue with the third stage of reopening, many people are still unable to return to life the way it was before the Covid-19 pandemic. At Deltassist, we want to acknowledge that stress related to the continued effects of Covid-19, including grief and concern with the escalating overdose

Welcome to the Deltassist Substance Use Services blog. This blog was created during the COVID-19 pandemic to help increase awareness around drug and alcohol use and mental health. Most of the information remains relevant even after the pandemic. July 4, 2020 This week we are finishing our three-part series on stigma (find the first post

June 25, 2020 This week we interrupted a three-post series addressing stigma to talk about overdose and how to prevent death by overdose. This is the second half of that two-part post. The previous post examines what an overdose is and the special legal protections offered to those who help out in a potential overdose situation.

June 24, 2020 The previous two posts were part of a three-post series addressing stigma. We will finish that series next week, after using this week post to talk about overdose. There will be two separate posts this week to cover information, resources, and strategies to prevent overdose deaths. They are meant to be useful

June 18, 2020 Last week’s post introduced the concept of stigma. This week, we’ll be expanding on that topic by examining three different types of stigma and then exploring self-compassion as a means of coping with shame and self-stigma.   Different types of stigma The Government of Canada website breaks stigma down into three categories:

Stigma is one of the most significant barriers people face when they reach out for support. When people who use substances and their loved ones face stigma they are discouraged from talking openly about any difficulties. This can prevent them from coming to terms with substance use problems which can lead to increased suffering and potentially tragic consequences.

Peer support programs (such as 12 Step and  Self-Management and Recovery Training), and the online self-help workbook by Here to Help BC, can be valuable as you navigate your journey with substance use. We’ve listed a number of options here.