There is a popular saying: you have to rebuild your life around recovery, not fit recovery into your life. It goes without staying that recovery is more than stopping the addictive behavior. It is a complete lifestyle change that spans a lifetime. Stopping the behaviour is the first step, what comes after is often the […]
It’s only natural for us to want to help and support those we love, but sometimes that desire to help can actually make the problem worse. What Does it Mean to Support Someone? Supporting a loved one who is struggling with addiction means helping them navigate the road to recovery. This assistance can take many […]
It can be incredibly challenging to watch a loved one struggle with addiction. Though a meaningful, heart to heart chat may help start someone you love on the road to recovery, in many cases, individuals with addictions struggle to see and acknowledge that something is wrong. If your loved one is having trouble acknowledging the […]
It doesn’t take a lot of time to find there is a lot more to every story of addiction than what meets the eye. The struggles of those affected may not show in our day to day lives, but it’s an enemy Calgarians and Canadians are up against every day. But what are our first […]
Substance abuse and addiction are, unfortunately, all too common both in Canada and across the globe. Even if you don’t experience addiction for yourself, there is a good chance that you know someone who has struggled – or is currently struggling – with addiction. It is estimated that 5% of the global population have used […]
No one starts out in life deciding they are going to end up addicted. Even people who grow up in difficult or destructive environments often swear that they are never going to end up like their parents, and are confident that they have the willpower to stay sober. Unfortunately, children who grow up in environments […]
Tune in this week on the Addiction Hope Forum as we discuss the opioid crisis with Calgary Fire Chief Steve Dongsworth. Over the last year more and more of the people who come through our doors have been telling us how their lives were saved by first responders, including the Calgary Fire Department. To delve […]
While the road to addiction has many routes, mental health and addiction often go hand in hand. To help you better understand the link here are the answers to a few frequently asked questions that I get about the relationship between addiction and mental health. How is Mental Health Related to Addiction? Research shows that […]
As I was leaving my office one day, I noticed a woman sitting on the bottom of the stairwell, holding her head in her hands and crying. I sat down next to her, and we began to talk. As she dried her eyes, I found out that she had just dropped her son off at […]
Last year between January 1st and November 11th Fentanyl took the lives of 582 Albertans. That is an increase of 119 people per year since 2017. Calgary, our home city, had the highest number of deaths. 271 Calgarians lost their lives to fentanyl between January and November. These sobering statistics speak for themselves, but we […]
