OTTAWA – Substance abuse is a major public health concern at the best of times. In the context of a global pandemic, it’s more important than ever to shine a light on the issue, says the Canada Safety Council.
November is National Community Safety and Crime Prevention Month, and this year the council wants the public to be aware of alcohol and drug consumption habits, as well as the negative effects they can bring.
“These are issues of real importance to Canadians,” said council president and CEO Gareth Jones. “Everyone has found their own ways to cope throughout this pandemic, but it serves us all well to remember that substance abuse is not an effective solution, and in fact can bring about additional long-term health issues.”
The impact of the opioid crisis across Canada was well-documented even prior to the pandemic. The Public Health Agency of Canada estimated 12,800 deaths due to opioid-related overdose between January 2016 and March 2019. As government agencies address the issues of over-prescription and illegal street drugs, there’s still a need to let those affected by this crisis know there is help available, officials state.
Additionally, according to an April 2020 poll for the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse, 18 per cent of Canadians reported an increase in their alcohol consumption while an additional 70 per cent reported their consumption stayed the same. Primary reasons for increased consumption were reported as lack of regular schedule, boredom, stress and loneliness.
It’s important to note that addiction is a disease. Studies show that individuals with severe substance use disorder have changes in their brain chemistry relative to those who do not have this disorder, with specific changes in the areas that impact judgment, impulse control, decision-making and learning. While it may seem obvious on the surface that substance abuse can be harmful, people suffering from addiction are often aware of this but keep using their substance of choice — whether that’s alcohol or drugs.
According to the Canadian Association for Mental Health, describing addiction can be done through the presence of four ‘C’s:
– Craving;
– loss of Control of amount or frequency;
– Compulsion to use; and
– use of substance despite Consequences.
Go to https://canadasafetycouncil.org for more information on how to help as an ally, or where to get help for addiction.
