Nov 13

Non-12 Step Programs for Recovery in Canada

There’s no doubt that participating in a support group while in recovery helps Canadians remain abstinent from drugs and alcohol. According to an article published in the Journal of Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, several studies show that engagement in a peer support group can contribute to successful long-term recovery in Canadians. Peer support groups have been shown to significantly reduce relapse rates and help to strengthen long-term recovery. When thinking of group support and...
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Nov 6

Understanding Addiction and Addiction Treatment in Canada

What is Addiction? Addiction is a complex disease of the brain. It focuses on the brain’s reward system in particular. This condition manifests in compulsive behaviors, most often around consuming drugs or alcohol; however, addiction is also associated with behaviors that trigger the reward system, such as sex or gambling.  When you are addicted, you’re compulsively using a substance, or exhibiting compulsive behavior. In that sense, it’s important to recognize that addiction does...
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Feb 22

Help Finding Public Drug and Alcohol Treatment in Alberta

This month, learn how to access public drug and alcohol treatment in Alberta in the next installment of  Provincial Snapshot. Each month Canada Drug Rehab is outlining the steps you must take to access public drug and alcohol treatment in each province. If you read the blog on Alberta's current mental health and addiction strategies, you will know that mental health and addiction are being brought under the same umbrella. Until that happens, the services are still split so you must access...
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Feb 8

Drug Fact Sheet: Alcohol

History Alcoholic beverages have existed almost as long as human civilization. Ancient Egypt, China, Greece and India all have alcoholic drinks dating back thousands of years. Just like today, they used fermented grain, fruit juice, or honey to make ethyl alcohol/ethanol. Over the centuries alcoholic beverages have ranged from being very mild to very strong. In the 18th century the British government encouraged the production of spirits and unwittingly created a widespread alcoholism problem....
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