Drug Treatment & Alcohol Rehab

Finding the right help for your son, daughter or family member can be quite difficult.   What kind of treatment to chose?   What treatment programs are available in Alberta?   What are the chances of success?   and Who to trust with this delicate task?.
Do not hesitate to call for help, our trained Drug Addiction counsellor are standing by to take your call at 1-877-782-7409

 

Alcohol and Other Drug Problems Affect All Albertans.

They are not contained by geography, social or economic status, ethnicity, gender or age. At some point in their lives, many Albertans will experience personal problems related to substance use and abuse, and many more will face difficulties because of someone else’s addiction. Alcohol and other drug problems do not occur in isolation. They affect family and social relationships, work and academic performance, and public safety. Alcohol and other drug problems are tied to the determinants of population health—income and social status, physical and social environment, biology/genetics, education, employment and working conditions, social support networks, personal health practices and coping skills, gender, culture, healthy child development and health services. Responding to these problems involves more than dealing with presenting medical and behavioural symptoms; it also requires attention to issues like housing, employment, child rearing, and the development of social supports. Alcohol and other drug problems are costly. They place a significant economic burden on all segments of society. Millions of dollars are spent each year to address the consequences of substance use—most of which are entirely preventable—and the money is then unavailable for other services that benefit society. Although alcohol and other drug problems have a pervasive effect on health and well-being, they are amenable to intervention.

A comprehensive and collaborative approach focusing on preventing use, minimizing harm, treating dependency and reducing the drug supply is required. The Alberta Drug Strategy responds to a call from Albertans for government leadership in directing these efforts. The Alberta Drug Strategy lays the groundwork for a co-ordinated and community-based approach to alcohol and other drug issues in this province. It builds on the considerable work underway, and is informed by consultations to date with a variety of provincial and community stakeholders.

At the core of the Alberta Drug Strategy is a commitment to collective action to reduce the harms associated with alcohol and other drug use. + Language is often of particular concern when discussing patterns of consumption, behaviours and consequences related to substance use. Throughout this document the phrase “alcohol and other drug use” and the phrase “alcohol and other drug problems” have been used in most instances. These phrases are intended to reflect the reality that substance use exists along a continuum from beneficial to harmful and that the problems associated with substance use can be acute or chronic, depending on the quantity, frequency, method, context or duration of alcohol or other drug use.

As Alberta’s population becomes larger and more diverse, so do the challenges presented by alcohol and other drug use among Albertans. Understanding the nature and scope of substance use and related harm in the province is fundamental to developing a strategy that will address these challenges. Alcohol and Other Drug Use in Alberta As the Alberta population continues to grow and become more diverse, so do the prominence, prevalence and complexity of alcohol and other drug problems. The use of alcohol and other drugs tends to be highest among youth and young adults, and Alberta has one of the youngest populations in Canada. Higher rates of alcohol and other drug use in the Aboriginal population are evident now, and may be linked to the rapid growth and change that is occurring in this group. Attitudes are shifting, with fewer young people perceiving a serious risk in using illegal drugs.

Perceptions are also changing among adults who increasingly rely on a variety of drugs to manage the stresses of daily life. Illegal drugs like cannabis are more accessible and more potent. Synthetic or designer drugs like methamphetamine, GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate) and ketamine continue to emerge on the street in cycles of surging and waning popularity. Many prescription drugs have serious addiction liability. There is considerable potential for harmful effects when these drugs are used in excessive quantities, used contrary to medical directives, or used in combination with alcohol and/or other legal and illegal drugs. Overall, Albertans’ use of alcohol and other drugs ranks in the top third of provinces in Canada. Trends show that the prevalence of alcohol use remains high, yet has been relatively stable over the last ten years. Prevalence of use of other substances like cannabis and cocaine/crack is lower, but has increased during this same time period. Alcohol Increased alcohol consumption and heavy drinking in Alberta is a significant public health issue. Alcohol plays a major role in morbidity and mortality and is associated with a wide range of physical and mental health problems as well as social and economic costs. .. 80% of Albertans (15 and older) consume alcohol. Albertans drink more per capita (8.9 litres) than the Canadian average (7.9 litres).

Albertans are more likely than other Canadians to report heavy alcohol consumption (22.4% vs. 20.7%), hazardous drinking (15.3% vs. 13.6%) and alcohol dependence (3.5% vs. 2.5%). Among Alberta youth, 56.3% of students consume alcohol and 13.0% (about 52,180 youth aged 11 to 19) drink at hazardous or harmful levels. .. Albertans (9.5%) are more likely than other Canadians (8.8%) to report that they have experienced harm from their own drinking.1 .. More than one-third of Albertans (38.0%) report that they have experienced harm because of someone else’s drinking, including verbal and physical abuse, and marital and family problems. Alcohol use during pregnancy can result in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), which has enormous implications in terms of illness and disability. Estimates suggest the prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is 1–3 per 1,000 live births, with higher rates in Aboriginal populations... Without taking into account lost potential and opportunity, it is estimated that more than $1.5 million in direct service costs (e.g., health care, special education, child and family services, income support programs, and criminal justice system) is spent on each person affected by FASD.

Alberta Drug Statistics: 56.3% of students consume alcohol In 2003, 22.3% of drivers involved in fatality collisions had consumed alcohol or were legally impaired.8,9 Illegal Drugs Alberta has a high rate of illegal drug use and its associated harms Illegal Drugs Alberta has a high rate of illegal drug use and its associated harms 15.4% of Albertans (15 and older) use cannabis (marijuana or hashish) 3.3% or less report using illegal drugs like cocaine, speed (amphetamine) or heroin. 18.4% of Albertans report harms from their use of illegal drugs, including physical health problems, negative effects on friendships, financial difficulties and problems with employment or school.

Alcohol was a contributing factor in 48% of reported incidents of spousal abuse in Alberta in 2003. Rates of spousal violence are higher among individuals whose partners drink heavily than among those whose partners drink moderately or not at all. Alberta continues to have one of the highest rates of impaired driving offences among Canadian provinces and territories.

The most popular illegal drug among Alberta students is cannabis with 27.6% reporting use and 5.8% showing signs of dependence...

About one in ten Alberta students use magic mushrooms or mescaline (10.4%), 5.6% use inhalants, 5.3% report using club drugs (ecstasy or crystal meth) and 3.9% use hallucinogens... After a long period of stable or declining use, recent reports suggest adolescent use of solvents and inhalants is increasing, and that fewer youth see risks in experimenting with these substances. Information on the prevalence of methamphetamine use in Alberta is limited. Use and abuse of this drug varies by region and study population (e.g., use is higher among street-involved youth and young adults).

An estimated 11,000 Albertans use illegal drugs by injection, which is a primary risk factor for hepatitis C and HIV in Alberta (injection drug use accounted for 20% of newly diagnosed HIV cases in 2004).The lifetime average cost for providing treatment to each person newly infected with HIV is estimated at $150,000. This includes physician billings, hospital stays, emergency room visits, counselling, drug costs, lab tests, and alternative therapies. Prescription Drugs Indications are that prescription drug abuse has increased since the 1980s, and there is growing concern about diversion of potent medications to the black market.

Women are more likely than men to use prescription drugs such as pain relievers, sleeping pills and tranquillizers. Among Albertans 18 and older, 5% report using prescription opioids and 4% report using sedatives such as Valium®. 4.0% of Alberta students report using “uppers without a prescription” and 2.3% report using “downers without a prescription.” OxyContin® has become a popular drug of abuse in many parts of Canada and the United States. Over the past few years, prescriptions for this drug, particularly higher-strength formulations, have increased in Alberta.

Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Program

The Narconon program has worked for over thirty years to help patients end their addictions to drugs, alcohol, painkillers, and other controlled substances. The hallmark of Narconon is its ability to create a drug free rehab and drug-free recovery program that frees patients from the fears of substituting anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medication, and sedatives for the original drug.

Indeed, Narconon believes that a natural, holistic approach to withdrawal is the most beneficial program for a patient. Once a patient has rid himself of toxins in the body, the mind recovers from its need for addictions and the cycle of abuse ends gradually, permanently. Drug rehabilitation, alcohol rehab, and addiction-ending programs must begin with a withdrawal from the substance in question, often leaving the patient in the throes of anxiety, depression, fear, and substitute cravings.

At Narconon, we do not substitute addictions or leave patients to suffer through these withdrawals, but rather educate patients and help them to understand why the body created the addiction as a coping mechanism. Over time, as the body rids itself of biochemical toxins, we help them reclaim their life by taking control of their body. Through nutritional supplements, exercise, and simply sweating out toxins, they'll be able to speed withdrawal and enjoy life with a new structure of purpose and relief.