In the face of rising Death Rates due to opiate addiction and reaction, Addiction Canada and the Network of recovery centres associated with them have developed a new program that uses medicinal marijuana to improve Success Rates.

Saving lives are all that matters and nobody has ever died from a marijuana overdose.

Opiate use is deadly and usually stems from the need to deal with a certain type of pain.  The term ‘deadly pharmaceuticals’ is not very far from the heart of the addiction crisis.

This new program takes a different approach.  Similar to fighting fire with fire, this program takes a natural product known for many years to have healing characteristics along with a pleasurable sided effect and use it to safely detox individuals who suffer from a much more serious and life threatening ailment.

Marijuana Detox from Opiate Addiction deserves serious consideration and is the leading the way to the successful victory against the deadly opiate crises facing North America today.

To learn more, call Addiction Canada:  1-844-663-2017

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Alcoholics are Drinking Mouthwash and other products with alcohol content and it can be deadly. Numerous brands of mouthwash are available that contain a high percentage of alcohol. Listerine, which is sold in a number of countries worldwide, contains 26.9% alcohol, making it more potent than beer, wine and some liquors. For the average consumer, this alcohol is still helpful in the overall oral hygiene process. Manufacturers generally include it within their mouthwash for the following two reasons:

* It dissolves other key ingredients to form a consistent mixture
* It helps to penetrate oral plaque on the user’s teeth

Because of the high alcohol content, it is not uncommon for alcoholics to consume large quantities when regular alcoholic beverages are difficult to find. This is dangerous due to the inclusion of other chemicals, such as hydrogen peroxide, methanol and eucalyptus oil. As well, the alcohol itself may cause mouth cancer. As such, excessive mouthwash consumption is a serious issue.

About 10 to 15% of alcoholics who undergo detoxification in hospital have consumed non-beverage alcohol such as mouthwash. This number is quite concerning since it reveals how many people are putting themselves at risk of injury, illness or death simply to get their next alcohol fix.

Mouthwash and Recovery

Since these types of mouthwash contain alcohol, there is a risk that they can cause a relapse in recovering alcoholics. Even the taste of alcohol while using mouthwash on a daily basis or a glimpse of the alcohol content displayed on the bottle is a cause of concern for those in recovery.

As such, these products should be kept out of reach of alcoholics struggling to break free from addiction. Fortunately, this is simple to do as there are several non-alcoholic versions of mouthwash which still provide the same oral hygiene benefits. By switching brands, it is possible to limit temptation without losing out on any positive health effects.

Reasons for Consuming Mouthwash

As for why an individual would choose to consume mouthwash instead of beverage alcohol, this comes down to a few simple facts. Firstly, it is much easier to conceal excessive mouthwash use from family members and friends. A simple trip to the bathroom can provide a convenient way to get that next hit without anyone else knowing. The minty breath smell that often accompanies mouthwash use simply adds to the ease of concealment.

Restrictions which may apply to beverage alcohol, such as beer or spirits, may not apply to products such as mouthwash, since they are not made for human consumption. This means that an intoxicated individual may still obtain a bottle or two even though they may be turned away from purchasing beer, wine or vodka.

Mouthwash is available almost any hour of the day. This is unlike more conventional forms of alcohol which may only be purchased at certain times from specific dealers (depending on the country). If the need arises when the regular liquor stores are closed, alcoholics can simply head to their local convenience store or supermarket and purchase a number of bottles of mouthwash instead. The price of mouthwash at these types of stores is also much cheaper than the typical cost of beverage alcohol.

Tips for Confronting Mouthwash Abuse

Despite the ease of access and concealment, drinking excessive amounts of mouthwash can still be very dangerous. Worst case scenarios for this type of activity include multiple organ failure and even death.

* If an individual has a minty smell to their breath all day long, it may mean that they are consuming mouthwash on a regular basis. By itself though, this is not enough to prove that an individual is partaking in this dangerous activity and other proof must be found before confronting them about it.
* Keep a look out for large number of empty mouthwash bottles which have been thrown away. While many alcoholics will go to great lengths to hide their addiction, sometimes they may get sloppy, especially after they have consumed a great deal.
* If there is any doubt, purchase some non-alcoholic mouthwash instead and see if any complaints are raised. This type of mouthwash has been shown to be safer anyway while still providing the same oral hygiene benefits.

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Every day for the recovering addict is work, a fight against the addiction that tempts the recovering addict with easement or escape. Though patients in addiction recovery understand the guilt as well as the consequences of relapse, that doesn’t make the work easier; sobriety isn’t instant, and it’s not magical, and life won’t be perfect as soon as the substance is removed from the life of the patient in addiction recovery.

Therefore, it’s important to go into the holiday stretch with a solid game plan (though this is far from a game). Think about what you would do in any given situation you may find yourself in during this holiday season and actually go through the practice of rehearsing your responses. Visualize yourself saying no to relapse and saying yes to your sobriety.

First, remember that life won’t be perfect. Don’t try to trick yourself into a perfect or magical holiday season. It will be essential not to build yourself up for a letdown. Instead, focus on how good sobriety feels, and really plant that as a sort of mantra in your head. Make a visual note to remind yourself, daily and even frequently during the day, that sobriety makes you feel good. To be sober today means you won’t carry the guilt of relapse tomorrow. But focus on “today.”

Next, know your triggers. These come in different forms.

Triggers can be your family. If you have relationships that trigger stress and are emotionally toxic, maybe stay clear of those people during this holiday season. Sometimes this isn’t as easy, and you may be forced to be around family members with whom you disagree or with whom you have a complicated history. Being sober won’t change this. What you can do instead of taking their bait is to make a plan in advance to not get riled up in the same way you did before. They may get to you; you don’t have to get back at them, and absolutely avoid any behavior that may become manipulative. You can also limit the amount of time you spend with family members who bring out the worst in you; if there are expectations to show up, show up and have a backup plan for getting yourself away from the toxic triggers. Maybe you always planned to leave early and go somewhere else.

Another trigger is the substance. If it’s alcohol, holiday parties are filled with alcohol. This is the challenge, and there are a couple of ways to cope with this.

On one hand, arrange for an activity that doesn’t involve a group of people sitting around just to talk. Oftentimes, drinking comes out of boredom or complacency, as people often use alcohol to fill their hands and the dead spaces in the conversation. But people are also much more likely to be led into alternate activities to get in holiday visitation time; these can include decorating, cooking, watching movies, or you can do plenty of outdoor activities to get yourself away from toxic domestic rituals that involve a substance.

On the other hand, make a plan in case you run into old friends who foster or encourage relapse, or an ex who may be an emotional trigger, or any interaction that may lead to an old craving.

And speaking of cravings: Often, a real craving will last only for 20 minutes. Take that time to evaluate your progress, ease yourself out of the situation, and get away from temptation. Repeat to yourself how good sobriety makes you feel. Have a plan for what to do if you come across any of these cravings. Remember also that low blood sugar can lead to irritability, which can become a trigger for a craving and subsequent relapse; make sure to take care of yourself and get enough to eat and get plenty of rest. Keep your stress levels as low as possible.

Also, know what’s on the menu. Alcohol can sneak into any number of holiday dishes, and even if it’s “cooked out,” sometimes that’s not always the case. And if the flavor is there, that taste can serve as an emotional trigger. If you’re not comfortable asking what’s on the menu, think of all the vegans and gluten-free dieters out there who do the same. If you’re still not comfortable, bring something with you to eat or drink that you know to be safe and stick with that.

Finally, do activities that make you happy or bring you a sense of peace and satisfaction. Maybe that means volunteering at a homeless shelter or spending time with animals. Maybe it involves doing some kind of healthy activity, such as leading a group hike, one not “associated” with the holidays. What can remind you of how good you feel? Finding any little joy is a great power on your side when going through addiction recovery and doing your best every day to avoid relapse.

And remember: if you need help during the holidays to prevent addiction relapse, have your people or person to call who will help you. Reach out to a sober friend or go to a meeting or safe place. You don’t have to go through this alone.

The post Avoiding Addiction Relapse & the Holidays – Flirting with Danger appeared first on Canadian Addiction Recovery Network.

An alternative to 12-step programs, Canadian Addiction Recovery Network Reviews offers panoramic lakeside or mountain views depending on location in a caring and therapeutic environment. Housing up to 2o residential guests in Alberta and up to 45 in Ontario, these luxury facilities offer a choice of semi-private or private rooms with or without lakeside or mountain views but still any room offers breathtaking scenic views any way you slice it.

The length of an individual’s stay at one of the Canadian Addiction Recovery Network Reviews facilities varies depending on the client’s initial assessment as determined by their clinical team, with the average stay being seven to eight weeks (for an additional charge, clients can opt for an extended stay up to 90 days).

The Canadian Addiction Recovery Network facility in Alberta is located in the Rocky Mountain/Foothills area of central west Alberta and is nestled on 150 acres of the most serene lands and views available and is affectionately called the Rocky Mountain Retreat, the Rocky Mountain Retreat offers its guests (a fairly diverse group in terms of age, occupation and substance abuse history) the sensation of total immersion in this breathtaking setting.

The Canadian Addiction Recovery Network facility in Ontario is located in the north Muskoka region of Ontario and is nestled on 125 acres of the most picturesque setting and lands available and is affectionately called the Spirit of the North Recovery Resort, the Canadian Addiction Recovery Network Reviews of our Muskoka Resort are that it offers its guests the most sacred of locations and lands on waterfront settings.

Canadian Addiction Recovery Network Reviews its locations and they both provide a relaxing environment for its guests. Canadian Addiction Recovery Network believes that this is not only conducive to one’s recovery, it is essential. These settings also enables Rocky Mountain Retreat and Spirit of the North to offer its guests opportunities to engage in fun and enjoyable activities and amenities which further enhance their recovery process. In the words of one former client, “The outings and amenities were amazing!” It is not surprising that alumni list “The Locations” as one of their top reasons for choosing Canadian Addiction Recovery Network Reviews and giving top marks.

The relaxing locations at either Canadian Addiction Recovery Network location is matched with a fairly relaxed attitude when it comes to an individual’s recovery process. This is not a “tough love” environment but the complete focus on one on one therapy at will is the staple for the success. When choosing a rehab it is important to know what level of structure is the right fit for you or your loved one. Rehabs run the gamut from almost military-style boot camp to vacation resort. Canadian Addiction Recovery Network graduates describe the structure there as “permissive.” There are classes every day during the week, so clients are kept busy, but each person is ultimately responsible for their own recovery. As one alum recalls, the staff was “…not strict. We were all adults and they expected us to act like adults but they gave us the attention when it was needed and the one on ones were always readily available.”

The quality of the program receives top marks from alumni and is most often cited as the main reason for choosing this program over other facilities. Canadian Addiction Recovery Network Reviews say that they offer a evidence-based alternative to the disease model favored by 12-step facilities. Its founders assembled a team of psychologists and mental health therapists with many years of experience to develop their program. The psychological and clinical program favors teaching over treatment, providing tools for learning and living that last a lifetime, not to mention the therapy for concurrent disorders is solution based. One alum summed up their experience this way: “I’ve got a lot of respect for the therapy staff at the Muskoka Recovery Resort. They know their stuff, and its exactly what I needed.”

Canadian Addiction Recovery Network staff say they are far from seeing their clients as being in the grip of an incurable disease, the staff see their clients as having fallen into patterns of unhealthy thinking and behavior – patterns which can be broken and changed if the client has an honest desire to change them and a willingness to learn how. In the words of one former client, “After 2 months at The Canadian Addiction Recovery centre, I have learned that I’m no longer an addict – but now I’m a recovering addict. It was a long road, but they helped me take the first step.” This philosophy is the focus of one on one and the individual’s underlying issues.

One prominent psychotherapist provided this Canadian Addiction Recovery Network Reviews, “I have a psychotherapy practice in Nova Scotia and on occasion refer my clients to The Canadian Addiction Recovery Network. Why send them almost clear across the country when there are plenty of rehab facilities in eastern Canada? Two words: SUCCESS RATE”

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Addiction is a chronic disease and mental condition and while relapse rates for many programs are famously high, studies show that for those that for those who have had 60 – 90 days or more of private residential treatment, only approximately 25% reported relapse after a year. The numbers for Government rehab programs are much higher like approximately 70-80% relapsing. This is very real and hence also why it is so very important to pick the right centre and hence what to look at in Government vs Private addiction treatment..

So there is evidence to support making the choice to seek the right private residential rehab. But where? There are so many private inpatient treatment centres that have popped up in the last 5 years in Canada, which one is right for you? We will look at why Canadian Addiction Recovery Network centres is the choice for you and show you why private is the way to go when comparing Government vs Private.

There are many differences among residential rehab programs that are government funded or public and those that are private, some quite substantial. But one of the biggest differences among these 2 programs is a public rehab is one that is funded by the government and a private centre is funded by the family or individual. The other big difference is that the public or government facilities usually have long wait lists to get in where with most private someone can have access to treatment immediately, which is usually what is most important as when addiction is in crisis mode every day counts and no waiting should be the preference.

Government Rehab: The Bad

Because government funded treatment centers are low cost or no cost, there is usually high demand for services. This means that if you choose this type of rehab, you may have to wait for treatment(sometimes 4-6 months). Often times, the window of opportunity to get someone help for an addiction is relatively short, so waiting isn’t always in the addict’s best interest.

Public facilities are usually limited in the type of treatment they provide. The program is typically more cookie cutter and generic with little flexibility or customized treatment care and almost all are 12 step models with no mental health or concurrent disorder therapy.

While private facilities do vary greatly, the guest experience at government run facilities is usually very basic and they are often located in more crowded with patients and located in busy city centre areas. Often these programs don’t provide as much in the way of amenities or room for outdoor recreation, quiet reflection or reconnecting with nature. Government vs Private is become more clear cut.

Government Rehab: The Good

No cost.

Private Rehab: The Good

In contrast to Government rehab( Government vs Private ), private facilities do charge more for their services as they are not funded through the province. You will pay more for a private rehab experience, but often times, it’s money well spent.

When it comes to factors from cost to program to experience, private rehabs vary greatly, so it’s hard to lump them all together. However, as a whole, there are some key differences.

One of the major differences you will likely notice when it comes to private treatment is the guest experience. Because the guests and their families are the ones paying for the treatment, there is often times more care given to the guest experience.

This means that meals may be a little more nutritious and enjoyable. Bedrooms and accommodations are often a bit more updates, and the grounds a private facility is located on are often times superior to that of publicly funded treatment.

In addition to a more thoughtful guest experience, private rehab usually provides a more customized and credentialed program. Private one-on-one therapy is an incredibly important part of rehab for substance abuse, and private facilities offer a more thorough clinical experience for their guests.

Private facilities often spend more time updating and making tweaks to their programs and provide a more thorough regimen of educational classes and a broader array of therapies. In addition to traditional therapies, many private facilities offer more holistic options like art therapy, meditation or yoga to treat the whole person.

These holistic approaches lead to higher success rates, though to what degree is a topic that’s often debated.

Since we’re talking success rate, it’s often thought that private rehab facilities do set people up for a greater chance at long-term sobriety, but success is defined differently by almost every facility and organization which makes this fact difficult to prove.

Here at the Canadian Addiction Recovery Network we have a 95% completion rate coupled with a 65-70% success rate with our 60 or 90 day programs, which is more than triple the national average of success of government funded programs. In Government vs Private it is more clear than ever that private is the way to go.

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Today, the 12-steps Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are organizations dedicated to helping people worldwide achieve sobriety through a series of graduated steps and regular meetings. New up to date research looks at the efficacy of 12-steps programs like AA and NA, but the several studies done indicate that this outdated program does not seem to support much to benefit from such a program. In most cases, a 12-steps program is proven to not be as effective as other therapies, when used alone.

A 12-steps program like AA or NA provides a framework of steps in acknowledging the addiction, accepting the consequences of the addiction, ways to mend at least some of the damage done while using, and encourages the building of a network of support through a service-oriented 12th step. For the large number of people AA and NA provide support to, it’s a self-sufficient organization supported by donation. Someone wishing to seek help through a 12-step program can do so at no cost. And with cost of treatment being a primary barrier for most people, 12-step programs can offer a life-line of support but little in the way of effective solution to Addictions.

Evidence brought about by studies supports the in-effectiveness of AA and NA. One of those studies, examined the effectiveness of three different treatment types in reducing overall drinking and drug use, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational therapy and simple talk therapy and empowerment. While all three treatment types showed promise, CBT therapy resulted in the most significant long-term impact.

While the traditional 12-steps program had proven effective for many in past years, there are some drawbacks to this form of treatment today with the advancement of addictions through mental health. The 12-step model emphasizes the powerlessness of the individual in battling addiction, and studies have found this approach to be less effective.

Research indicates men and women begin drinking for different reasons. While men tend to drink to feel more powerful and to decrease inhibition, women are more likely to drink from a place of numbing or pain reduction. They do not report feeling more powerful while drinking. As a result, women tend to see improved outcomes with cognitive behavioral therapy as well as programs like the trauma recovery empowerment model (TREM), which seek to empower women toward skill-building and coping with past sexual and physical trauma.

Another con of the 12-steps program, especially for humanists or atheists, is the program’s fundamental adherence in the belief of a higher power. While this higher power is sometimes interpreted as the program itself, this reliance on an outside power to guide the process may not be a comfortable notion for most.

Other drawbacks of the 12-steps program involve the lack of emphasis on physical recovery. Addiction comes with adverse health effects and withdrawal symptoms that are not addressed by the 12-steps model.

Some are also uncomfortable with the very public nature of 12-steps programs in asking participants to acknowledge their addiction in a group setting. For someone with a co-occurring mental disorder, the experience of talking about their drug or alcohol use in a group setting can increase symptoms of the disorder.

Cons

• Not an empowerment model, so less effective for most seeking treatment
• Reliance on a higher power, individuals are powerless to affect change without this higher power
• Lacks emphasis on physical aspects of recovery, including withdrawal or detox period
• Social aspects of program may increase symptoms of co-occurring mental disorders
• Lack any and all resolve by way of mental health work.
• Is a faith based program as compared to an Evidence based program

Every year brings forth additional awareness of the complexity of addiction and improvements in recovery programs to increase long-term success rates. The Canadian Addiction Recovery Network program or CARNE has proven to be a more comprehensive approach to treating drug and alcohol addiction.

The post The Cons of Using the 12-Steps in Addiction Recovery appeared first on Canadian Addiction Recovery Network.

Carfentanil or carfentanyl (also known as 4-carbomethoxyfentanyl) is an analog of the synthetic opioid analgesic fentanyl. It was found to be four orders of magnitude or 10,000 times more potent than morphine, making it one of the most potent known and the most potent commercially used opioids. Carfentanil was first synthesized in 1974 by a team of chemists at Janssen Pharmaceutica. It is marketed under the trade name Wildnil as a general anaesthetic agent for large animals such as Elephants.

Side effects of fentanyl analogs are similar to those of fentanyl itself, which include itching, nausea and potentially serious respiratory depression, which can be life-threatening. Fentanyl analogs have killed thousands of people throughout the USA since the most recent resurgence in use began in Estonia in the early 2000s, and novel derivatives continue to appear worldwide.

This potent and deadly drug has now surfaced in Canada and is raising alarms with current deaths coming to light.

Dr David Juurlink, head of clinical pharmacology and toxicology at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, noted that fentanyl is already arriving in mail packets too small for border agents to inspect, while carfentanil is one-hundred times stronger.

“You can ship a million doses of carfentanil in something the size of a bar of soap. It’s not going to be detected at the borders. We cannot stop these (drugs) from reaching us. And so we have to be prepared to deal with the consequences.”

Juurlink compared carfentanil with a weapon of mass destruction. “If released in a plane or a movie theatre, it would kill a large number pf people. I would not be surprised if, in the years ahead, terrorists got a hold of this stuff,” he said.

It’s heroin laced with elephant tranquilizers, and 100 times more potent than fentanyl. Carfentanil, a new synthetic drug hitting Canadian streets and is causing “mass overdoses.”

Just a few granules of the synthetic opioid are enough to be lethal, drug enforcement officials warn.

Health Canada, for its part, is ramping up efforts to tame the “crisis” it’s seeing within our borders.

“Health Canada is deeply concerned about the growing number of opioid-related overdoses and deaths associated with street drugs, such as illicitly produced fentanyl, as well as pharmaceutical opioids, in British Columbia, as well in other parts of Canada,” the department said in a statement to Global News.

What is carfentanil?

Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid that’s grouped with heroin, fentanyl and oxycodone.

Ingram said that depending on the drug’s purity, carfentanil can be:

• 100 times more potent than fentanyl
• 10,000 times more potent than morphine
• 4,000 times more potent than heroin

“Carfentanil is an analogue of fentanyl with an analgesic potency 10,000 times that of morphine and is used in veterinary practice to immobilize certain large animals,” the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says on its website.

“Carfentanil is intended for large-animal use only as its extreme potency makes it inappropriate for use in humans,” the National Library of Medicine explains in its compound summary for the drug.

It looks like table salt, but just a few granules is enough to trigger a fatal overdose, DEA spokesman Russ Baer told TIME.

Frontline emergency responders have to wear gloves and masks to protect themselves from accidentally ingesting even miniscule amounts of the substance.

Just imagine if this drug becomes readily available in all of Canada, the deaths it would cause may be so staggering that it will make the current Canadian Opioid crisis look like a minor incident.

The post Carfentanil, the New Deadly Opioid to Hit Streets in Canada appeared first on Canadian Addiction Recovery Network.

Health professionals from across Canada are gathered in Ottawa to discuss a growing, urgent health crisis — opioid addiction, overdose and death.

Here is a by-the-numbers look:

Six or seven — Number of Canadians who die daily from opioid overdose, according to Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins

One in eight — Deaths of Ontarians 25 to 34 years in 2010 related to opioids.

100 — Number of times fentanyl is more powerful than morphine.

488 — Number of illicit drug deaths in British Columbia as of the end of August 2016, according to the coroner, roughly 61 deaths a month.

655 — Number of fentanyl-related deaths in Canada between 2009 and 2014, according to the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.

800 — Number of illicit drug overdose deaths expected in British Columbia in 2016, half of which are expected to involve fentanyl.

‘It’s going to become an unstoppable plague in this country,’ says premier Christy Clark of opioid crisis

Premier Christy Clark says unless the federal government declares a national public health emergency in response to the growing number of opioid-related deaths in this country, the crisis will only get worse.

The post Opioid Addiction, Overdose & Death, Canadian Crisis by the Numbers appeared first on Canadian Addiction Recovery Network.

Now that high is becoming high-potency as well.

Because of advances in cultivating the plant Cannabis sativa, the average THC concentrations increased from 4.56% in 1996 to 11.75% in 2008. There are growing concerns about the increased potency of marijuana, with mounting evidence supporting the risk of cannabis-induced psychosis in otherwise healthy individuals.

Effects of marijuana include the following:

• Mild euphoria
• Increased sense of well-being
• Relaxation
• Relief from anxiety
• Alterations in perception of time
• Hallucinations and illusions (infrequent)⁴

The common negative effects of smoking marijuana include:

• Impairments in cognitive functioning.
• Impairments in learning.
• Disruption of all stages of memory.
• Impairments of motor control and reaction time.
• Acute depressive reactions at very high doses.
• Panic reactions.
• Mild paranoia.⁴
  

Is Marijuana Addictive?

The DSM-5 — the newest edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s manual for diagnosing mental health and substance disorders — now includes a diagnosis of Cannabis (Marijuana) Use Disorder, including a group of symptoms and diagnostic criteria for addiction — such as tolerance, withdrawal syndrome, craving and persistent or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control use of this drug.  And in many Western nations, its use is so widespread that more than half of 21-year-olds born since 1970 have reported trying the drug at least once.

Marijuana Addiction in Canada

In recent years, studies have discovered the following about the prevalence of marijuana addiction:

• More adults in the Canada had a marijuana use disorder in 2001-2002 than in 1991-1992.
• Increases in the prevalence of marijuana dependence have been most notable among young black men and women, and among Latino adult men.
• There have been significant increases in the abuse of and dependence on marijuana by teens and youth.
• The increase in potency of the active ingredient in marijuana (THC) may have contributed to rising rates in problematic use.
• Prevalence of marijuana use by white males (18-29 years) have remained high.
• Numerous environmental factors (increase in single-parent households, education, truancy and economic factors) are all likely to contribute to the observed changes.
  

  Marijuana Use in Adolescents: Concerns for the Future

  Marijuana use in adolescence is associated with altered brain development, a decline in cognitive function and poor academic performance. Adolescents who use marijuana perform worse on tests of problem solving, with problems also in areas of attention, memory and learning. After 28 days’ abstinence from marijuana use, there was still diminished performance in areas of complex attention, verbal memory and planning in some studies. It is also thought that cannabis use in susceptible adolescents and young adults may lead to schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders.

  Marijuana and alcohol are frequently used together, with 58% of adolescents who drink also using marijuana.
  

  Does Marijuana Help or Hurt?

  Marijuana is the most frequently abused illegal drug in the country. The legalization of marijuana remains a controversial issue, and there continues to be a lot of debate about whether or not marijuana is harmful to one’s health.

  Contributing to the debate is the fact that marijuana is frequently used for medicinal purposes. Many people use it to ease the discomfort caused by cancer and other chronic diseases. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, scientists have found that marijuana offers therapeutic effects that can relieve nausea, ease pain and stimulate appetite.

  Still, chronic marijuana use may also contribute to the development of mental health issues, as well as lung and heart disease. And marijuana can be addictive. Although it rarely (if ever) causes death, it can cause many social effects.

  According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana use can have a number of negative effects on a user’s daily life. It has been associated with decreased motivation, which can affect one’s school or work performance. Marijuana use has been connected to increased absences and decreased work performance. There are also more work accidents, which lead to more workers’ compensation claims. These factors can eventually lead to a marijuana user losing his or her job over drug use.

  It can also affect one’s social life and cognitive abilities, leading to problems with memory, slowed reaction times, anxiety and panic, as well as social and interpersonal deficits.

  Further physical effects of marijuana use include a suppressed immune system and respiratory problems stemming from the fact that marijuana contains greater amounts of tars than those found in tobacco smoke, as well as many of the same cancer-causing chemicals. Chronic use of marijuana can also reduce fertility and sexual potency in men and menstrual cycles in women. Finally, THC can cross the placenta, affecting a baby’s developing brain and cause other prenatal stresses on the fetus.

  More Significant Social Issues

  Marijuana affects perception and judgment and is associated with low achievement. Marijuana also causes memory and learning problems, which can especially affect those in high school or college. Marijuana use can also cause delinquent behavior, aggression, rebellion and poor relationships with family, especially parents.

  According to The Social Impact of Drug Abuse, the effects of drugs in the workplace depend on the specific tasks being performed. Highly technical tasks that require concentration and memory are more likely to be affected by drug use than manual labor.

  Marijuana’s Long-Term Effects on the Brain

  While some components of brain function recover completely with the passage of time after an individual stops marijuana use, research has shown that there are other areas in which problems persist. Some of the affected brain processes include decision-making, concept/idea formation and planning. These effects are most likely to occur in people who began regular marijuana use as adolescents and engaged in heavy use for a very long time. Daily or persistent use of marijuana at intoxicating doses can lead to chronic problems in areas of social functioning, including problems in school, sports, work and the ability to sustain healthy relationships.

  Marijuana and Mental Health

  Here are the facts about mental health and marijuana:

  • Marijuana use can cause severe anxiety and even panic attacks, especially among inexperienced users of the drug who take a relatively large dose.
  • Marijuana slows reaction time and information processing, signal detection and motor coordination, a condition which intensifies as dose increases. That might be okay if you’re just hanging out at home, but accidental injury or fatality while driving has become a major health concern around how marijuana affects mental processing.
  • Marijuana use is associated with psychotic illness, including schizophrenia, in vulnerable adolescents, such as those exposed to child abuse and a family history of psychotic illness.
  • There is a clinically significant relationship between reductions of marijuana use and reduction in depression among young women (ages 18-25). Depression is the most common mental illness for young adults, particularly for young women, and depressive symptoms were reduced in young women who reduced their use of cannabis/marijuana.
    

  Treatment for Marijuana Addiction

  About one-third of heavy marijuana users report symptoms of withdrawal when they quit abruptly. While withdrawal rarely requires medication, the use of dronabinol (Marinol) has been shown to reduce withdrawal symptoms in highly motivated clients.¹⁸ Beyond this, there is little to offer by way of drug therapy for marijuana dependence like there is for opioid addiction or alcoholism.

  A combination of different therapies has worked in some cases, including Contingency Management (CM), Relapse Prevention, Motivational Interviewing (MI) and combinations of these with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). These interventions are typically used in individual and group settings in rehab treatment and work in the following ways:

  • Contingency Management (CM): Reward abstinence with vouchers for other healthy products.
  • Relapse Prevention: Help you build on successes made in early recovery.
  • Motivational Interviewing (MI): Engage your inner strength and help sustain your motivation to get better.
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Teach skills to deal with cravings; address distorted thought patterns in the context of marijuana use while learning to live in freedom without the unhelpful thought patterns and behavior associated with addiction.
    

  Traditional Treatment

  Inpatient Treatment

  The most common form of inpatient treatment in Canada is the 12-Step Model, which proposes that total abstinence from all drugs of abuse is essential for successful treatment. Length of stay is fixed and you attend educational talks about the disease concept of addiction and how addiction affects the family and other significant people in our lives.

  Group therapy helps you realize that you are not alone by having everyone in the group share their personal stories of addiction. Seeing the commonalities in others’ stories helps you begin to realize (if you haven’t already) that you have an illness. From here, you can begin to confront its adverse effects.

  This is complemented with individual therapy with a certified addictions counselor or psychotherapist. Psychiatrists and doctors help treat other co-occurring disorders such as depression and anxiety.

  Peer interaction is essential in this model, for reasons of support and challenge.

  At Canadian Addiction Recovery Network we are Non 12-Step and use a Psychometric/Therapeutic Model dealing directly with the underlying issues and con-current disorders associated with Addictions and root causes of such. We believe that a more One on One focused model breeds higher success rates overall.

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