CCSA highlights the harms of alcohol, drugs and substance abuse
While most people with substance addictions aren’t celebrated, their stories can be a source of inspiration and strength to others. The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse supports National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW) and Drug Addiction Week (DAW) – from November 14–20 – and takes this opportunity to educate Canadians about the harms associated with addiction.
Substance abuse in Canada is a serious and far-reaching problem that has been estimated to cost the country close to $40 billion annually. These costs are mostly associated with the legal substances of tobacco and alcohol. In 2010, 17 per cent of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported smoking tobacco, while 14.6 per cent of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported experiencing harm as a result of alcohol use .
At the biennial Issues of Substance 2011 conference, hosted by CCSA last week in Vancouver, one former addict captured the audience of more than 460 health, research and policy professionals with his moving story of recovery. Keynote speaker ‘Skid Row CEO’ Joe Roberts kept the audience transfixed as he shared his amazing ascent from heroin junkie to millionaire CEO.
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“For people stuck in that addiction, it’s so much easier to continue in the hell of that existence than to step into the fear of the unknown, which is recovery.”
“I really believe that the problem cannot be solved by the same mind that created it, and there has to be that step in to surrender and face that ‘I need help from outside.’”
- Joe Roberts, Skid Row CEO | |
This week, CCSA and organizations around Canada are highlighting the importance of addiction awareness, and honouring brave individuals such as Joe Roberts.
Take a look at what’s being done around the country:
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse
National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW)
November 14–20, 2011
www.ccsa.ca
CCSA launched its National Addictions Awareness Week activities last week, with its biennial Issues of Substance 2011 conference in Vancouver. More than 460 professionals in the field of substance abuse attended the dozens of forums focused on the conference theme, Transforming health promotion, prevention, treatment and recovery.
The conference opened on November 7 with a keynote address by Hugh Evans, co-founder and CEO of the Global Poverty Project. His presentation inspired the audience to get involved at the individual and community levels to fight poverty and addiction. The second keynote speaker, Dr. Patricia Conrod, Ph.D, a professor and researcher from Université de Montréal, spoke the next day about how certain personality types are attracted to specific substances, with a focus on youth.
Overall, the broad range of presentations covered the links between mental health and addiction (concurrent disorders), early intervention among youth, addiction issues unique to women, rural populations and Canada’s Aboriginal peoples, and the rising prescription opioid problem in Canada.
The conference closed with a keynote address by Joe Roberts, “Skid Row CEO”, a man who has made a remarkable ascent from homeless heroin addict to millionaire business man. Joe shared personal anecdotes, centered around the theme that there’s more to each of us than we see. He encouraged everyone to start “living in the world of possibilities”.
For more information about the conference, visit www.issuesofsubstance.ca.
Native Counseling Services of Alberta
National Aboriginal Addictions Awareness Week (NAAAW)
November 13 – 19, 2011
http://addictionsawareness.com
The NAAAW celebration focuses on promoting an addictions-free lifestyle for communities, families and individuals, and empowering First Nation and Inuit individuals, families and organizations to create positive, safe and healthy environments. Communities are encouraged to enhance their relationships with others by planning and developing activities that bring people together in positive and affirming ways. The NAAAW logo incorporates sacred symbols and concepts to represent the theme Living the Good Life, which is essential for balance and harmony. The logo uses footprints to illustrate the need to cultivate the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual aspects for a person’s well-being and complete development of an addictions-free lifestyle.
Visit the NAAAW website for more information.
Alberta Health Services
National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW)
November 13 – 19, 2011
http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/
Change is possible is the NAAW theme for the provincial network of Alberta Health Services’ Addiction and Mental Health offices and their community partners. Staff collaborate with their communities to identify meaningful NAAW activities, and promotional material is available to support local activities. NAAW messages encourage individuals, families, workplaces and communities to work together to prevent alcohol, tobacco, and other drug and gambling problems, and also to raise awareness of available services for those needing help.
For more information contact Cathy.Work@albertahealthservices.ca.
Manitoba Partners for Addictions Awareness
Manitoba Addictions Awareness Week
November 14 – 20, 2011
http://www.mbpaa.ca/index.cfm Theme: Balancing Your Life
Manitoba Addictions Awareness Week will help to raise awareness about issues related to alcohol, substance use/misuse and gambling, and this year will focus on preparing children and youth to make better decisions to help in addressing the challenges related to addictions. Resources and activities for youth, parents, educators and service providers are available on the website. An awards and recognition celebration will take place on November 14, and organizations are encouraged to register their community events and activities by filling out the online form.
Yukon Ministry of Health and Social Services
National Aboriginal Addictions Awareness Week
November 13, - 19, 2011
http://www.hss.gov.yk.ca/ads.php
Several major activities are taking place in the Yukon, including:
- Annual free swim at the Canada Games Pool, and an event, co- sponsored by Yukon Liquor Corp (social responsibility section), along with an exhibit booth providing literature on alcohol and drug prevention. An ADS Prevention Consultant will attend the booth to answer questions and share resources with the public.
- A “Warm Fuzzy” leaflet has been created, incorporating family resilience messaging, a packet of hot chocolate and contact information for Alcohol and Drug Services. ADS Prevention consultants will be distributing leaflets at territory-wide events. The prevention messages have been renewed this year as follows: Quick tip: Model health attitudes and behaviours you want your children to develop; Fast Fact: Children are primarily influenced by families and caregivers and Our children are important to us. Our actions affect a lifetime.
- ADS Prevention & Health Promotion have launched a play Wake & Bake. This is more than a play; it is an initiative that looks at the deeper reasons youth may be drawn into addictions. It explores the complex issues of substance use and contemporary realities in the lives of Yukon teens. This play was written by Dean Eyre, directed by Arlin McFarlene and produced by Yukon Educational Theatre. Wake & Bake was built on information shared by Yukon youth focus groups. There is a fairly extensive tour schedule (Oct. 11–Nov. 8) that will see the play delivered in most Yukon communities, with 26 showings planned.
- Many communities are anticipating using this play as a springboard for further discussions and events during NAAAW. ADS Prevention consultants are gearing up to further support communities as requested in the months to come following the play.
Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services, and Ministry of Education, Recreation and Sport
Drug Awareness Week
November 20 – 26, 2011
http://www.dependances.gouv.qc.ca/index.php?semaine-de-prevention-de-la-toxicomanie-en
Theme: Your passions make you stronger! / There’s so much more to life!
Your passions make you stronger!
Under this theme, youth between the ages of 10–12 are invited to engage with their community to discover their passions, an effective approach to help youth protect themselves from the risks associated with alcohol or drug use. For more information, please visit the website.
There’s so much more to life!
Under this theme, youth between the ages of 13–16 are invited to look at different ways of protecting themselves from the risks associated with alcohol and drug use, particularly by engaging with their community or discovering a passion, so they can take ownership of change. Youth between the ages of 17-24 are asked to think about the possible consequences of their alcohol or drug use and gambling practices, and encouraged to engage in other activities instead. For more information, please visit the website.
Capital District Health Authority, Nova Scotia
Addiction Prevention and Treatment Services, Capital Health
Four Weeks of Awareness and Hope
Month of November
http://www.gethelpstopping.ca
‘Four Weeks of Awareness and Hope’ is a positive campaign to share information and resources about addiction. We all want to live in healthy communities! Contributing to healthier attitudes and behaviours related to the use of alcohol, other drugs and gambling is an important part of improving the health of Nova Scotians. Addiction treatment is a healthcare service like any other, and we're working hard to end addiction stigma so that all people feel safe in seeking the help they need. This month of focused awareness-raising and special events will help us reach out to our communities with these important messages. Events and activities include a video campaign on the TV Guide Channel, a strategic social media and email campaign, and special events.
Pictou County Health Authority, Nova Scotia
Addiction Prevention and Treatment Services- Community Based Services
Addictions Awareness Week
November 13–19, 2011
http://www.addictionservices.ns.ca
Two one-day interactive workshops for allied professionals are being offered (School Boards, Community Services, Family Services and resource centers, Child Welfare, Justice, etc.) that will aim to increase knowledge and skills, and build capacity to address addiction in the community. This training will emphasize prevention, early intervention, screening and brief intervention, and motivational interviewing. Educational sessions are also being offered in the three local high schools, focusing on the impacts that the media and marketing of alcohol have on youth, in particular, the hypersexualization of young woman and a culture of acceptance of binge drinking. Opportunities for information sharing and discussion will follow the classroom presentations.
Saskatchewan Ministry of Health in partnership with Regional Health Authorities
Saskatchewan Addictions Awareness Week (SAAW)
November 13 – 19, 2011
http://www.health.gov.sk.ca/addictions-awareness
Theme: Connecting people to services with a reminder that “Your community has connections to help”.
SAAW aims to raise public awareness of alcohol and drug misuse, and addiction issues. It is an opportunity to let people know that drinking alcohol to excess and/or misusing drugs/using illegal drugs can be more than a choice or more than a social activity—it can be or become an addiction. Accordingly, this week profiles the many valuable addictions services available within Saskatchewan. SAAW brings together community partners who work together to reduce and prevent the negative impact of addictions. Visit the SAAW website for more information, or contact Addictions Services in your local health region.
Northwest Territories Health and Social Services
Help is Out There!
NWT Addictions Awareness Week – November 13 – 19, 2011
http://www.hlthss.gov.nt.ca/english/services/addictions/national
_addictions_awareness_week.htm