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Substance Use Blog Series: What is Harm Reduction?
Aug 14, 2020 This week in the Substance Use Services’ blog, we are taking a closer look at harm reduction. We will discuss what harm reduction is, describe some examples of harm reduction around substance use in British Columbia, and then break down two myths about harm reduction. Harm reduction refers to strategies and measures
Substance Use Blog Series: What is the Overdose Crisis?
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
Substance Use Blog Series: Triggers
July 24, 2020 This week in the Substance Use Blog Series, we are discussing what triggers are, as well as some coping mechanisms for dealing with them. Before getting into triggers, we want to acknowledge that changing one’s relationship with substances is a layered process. Our human neurobiology is complicated and there are
Substance Use Blog Series: Youth Resources
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
Substance Use Services Blog Series: Self-Care
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
Substance Use Services Blog Series: The Impacts of Stigma on Self and Family
July 4, 2020 This week we are finishing our three-part series on stigma (find the first post on myths and realities here, and the second post on different kinds of stigma, shame, and self-compassion here). In the previous posts, we mentioned that stigma deters people who use drugs from seeking help, but we
Substance Use Services Blog Series: Preventing Overdose Deaths Part 2
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.
Substance Use Services Blog Series: Preventing Overdose Deaths Part 1
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
Substance Use Services Blog Series: Different Kinds of Stigma, Shame, and Self-Compassion
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:
Substance Use Services Blog Series: Myths Behind Stigma
June 10, 2020 The first series of posts in our Substance Use Services blog discussed the types of resources available to Delta residents looking to abstain from or reduce their substance use. Over the next weeks, we will be examining stigma and its consequences. Stigma is one of the most significant barriers people face when
