Substance Use

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.

Drug and alcohol treatment programs offer structured therapeutic activities to people who want to reduce their substance use and who do not need medically supervised withdrawal management. Treatment programs may include a variety of activities that have been shown to support people in reaching their goals around reducing substance use.

At Deltassist, we offer free individual counselling for youth and adults using substances and those who are affected by someone else’s substance use. Some health insurance packages will cover a number of  private practice counselling sessions. If you have health insurance through work or privately, check if it includes counselling.

Opioids include prescription drugs such as oxycontin and morphine, as well as street drugs such as heroine and fentanyl. Withdrawal symptoms are better managed by special medications that slowly adjust the body to the absence of the substances rather than by a sudden absence. The medical process of opioid treatment is called Opioid Agonist Treatment.

Prolonged alcohol and/or drug use can cause the human body to become dependent on these substances. When the substance(s) stop entering the body or are being consumed at a reduced amount, the body goes through what is known as “withdrawal” as it tries to re-adjust to the loss of the substance. Symptoms of withdrawal vary.