Suicide Prevention Week Sept 9 – 15
World Suicide Prevention Day is September 10th, National Suicide Prevention Week is September 9-15, and September is International Suicide Prevention Month. Many health organizations across the world observe this month and host awareness events to help prevent suicide. Suicide in Canada Every day approximately 10 Canadians die by suicide, 9 of them were known to be living with a mental health problem. Between the ages of 20 to 64 men account for approximately 75% of suicides and women account for just over half of the self-harm hospitalizations. For children aged 10 and up, and young adults aged 20 to 29 suicide is the second leading cause of death. For every suicide death, there are 5 self-harm hospitalizations and up to 30 previous suicide attempts. Increasing Suicide Rates in Women More men than women die by suicide in both Canada and the USA. However, between 2000 and 2016 in the USA the rate of women who died by suicide rose 50% compared to a 21% increase for men. In Canada, the change has been less stark, but between 2011 and 2015 there was a 15% increase in female suicide compared to a 12% increase in males. Experts agree it is hard to determine the underlying causes for this increase in suicide rates. Men are at risk for not receiving treatment due to perceived stigma and not wanting to admit to a mental health problem. Whereas the Canadian Women’s Foundation suggests stress and experiencing violence as possible reasons for women being more prone to suicide. Suicide Prevention It isn’t realistic to shoulder the burden of trying to prevent a loved one’s suicide, however, if you notice some of the following warning signs it could be an indication that they need help: increased substance use anxiety, agitation, insomnia feelings of being trapped, of having no reason to live, or hopelessness withdrawal from loved ones dramatic mood changes including anger, recklessness If you feel concerned take a look at the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention page for concerned loved ones here. If you are looking for a drug and alcohol rehab that focuses on mental health and feelings of depression or suicidal ideation contact our specialist for assistance. References: Suicide Rates Among Canadian Women are Rising Faster than Men. It’s Unclear Why. Suicide in Canada Know the Warning Signs of Suicide The post Suicide Prevention Week Sept 9 – 15 appeared first on Canada Drug...
September is National Recovery Month
Every September, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) sponsors National Recovery Month to both celebrate those living in recovery, and to spread awareness and understanding of mental health issues and substance use disorders. Recovery Month started life as Treatment Works! Month back in 1989 which focused on the efforts of substance use treatment professionals. In 1998 it turned into National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month when the campaign expanded to include those with substance use disorders in recovery. Finally, in 2011 the day was renamed to National Recovery Month to have a broader scope of all behavioural health. This year’s theme is Join the voices for recovery: invest in health, home, purpose, and community. While this theme may seem broad, it delivers on some of the key factors to a person’s successful recovery. Health and Home Substance use is often the symptom of a larger problem. For some struggling with opioids, it is because they have an unrelated health concern that has required opioid medication they are now dependent on. For others, it may be an undiagnosed mental or physical injury or ailment that they are now self-medicating for. SAMHSA advocates for integrated care so that the individual is receiving the best, most well-rounded care possible. Just as general good health aids recovery, so does a safe and secure living environment. Living on the streets can put people in many different kinds of unsafe situations, as well as additional mental stress and anxiety due to not having a regular place of residence. Working with local governments to ensure supported housing is available can greatly alleviate barriers to recovery. Purpose and Community Something most drug rehabs in Canada will touch on during treatment is finding a person’s purpose, their drive or motivation in life. When someone feels they are not needed, not wanted, it can be hard for them to be inspired to make healthy changes. A community can be the start of fostering a purpose in someone. Whether that means finding a local meeting or contacting our specialist to find an appropriate drug and alcohol treatment centre, finding a community can help pull people through the hard steps of recovery. References: Recovery Month The post September is National Recovery Month appeared first on Canada Drug...
International Overdose Awareness Day – Drug Overdose Statistics in Canada
Since its inception in 2001, August 31st has been International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD). It began in Melbourne, Australia and since then has been adopted by both government and non-government organizations to hold events to raise awareness and commemorate the loss of life. The climbing accidental opioid-related death toll in Canada has made many Canadians well aware of the danger of overdose. This blog will look at what an overdose is, as well as the current state of opioid-related overdoses in Canada. What is an Overdose? An overdose is when your body cannot handle the amount or combination of drugs you have ingested, injected, or inhaled. Depressants are a class of drug that slow the body’s vitals, like breathing and heart rate. Opioids, benzodiazepines, and alcohol all slow the central nervous system. When too much of a depressant is taken into the body, a person can stop breathing or their heart can stop beating. Stimulants can cause overdoses too. Amphetamines, a class of stimulants, can cause heart attack, stroke, or seizure when taken in excessive doses. It is also important to remember that many overdoses do not result in death. They are still extremely dangerous as they can cause long-term mental and physical health problems. Overdoses in Canada The federal government reported 3987 apparent opioid-related deaths in Canada in 2017. 92% of these deaths were ruled as accidental. People can overdose on a large variety of substances, however, most data currently available is specific to opioids as they are the greatest threat right now. Across Canada, 78% of accidental opioid-related deaths happened to men, and while age varied across the country, the highest percentage (28%) was among 30 to 39 year olds. In 2016 just over half of opioid-related deaths involved fentanyl or fentanyl analogues, this increased to 72% in 2017. It is important to note that 71% of all accidental opioid-related deaths in 2017 involved one or more types of non-opioid substances. Mixing drugs is one of the leading causes of overdose and death. If you have any doubt about what the ingredients of your drugs are, do not take them. Contact our specialist if you are looking to reduce your drug consumption and need resources. References: International Overdose Awareness Day Apparent Opioid-Related Deaths JMC – 2018.07.25 The post International Overdose Awareness Day – Drug Overdose Statistics in Canada appeared first on Canada Drug...
New Alcohol Withdrawal Training for Doctors
A new study out of Canada, published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association has called for new training for emergency and family doctors to better help those with alcohol withdrawal symptoms. The study urges the use of a questionnaire called the Prediction of Alcohol Withdrawal Severity Scale. In their research 530 studies involving 71, 000 patients were looked at, with St Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver being the only hospital in Canada to use the questionnaire. Dr. Evan Wood is the lead author of the study as well as the executive director of the BC Centre on Substance Use. He believes the use of the questionnaire at St Paul’s has led to improved patient care and noticeable savings to the health care system. How the Questionnaire Works There are ten questions that include whether the patient has previously experienced alcohol withdrawal, if they’ve ever had a seizure or blackout, and if they have consumed alcohol in conjunction with another substance in the last 90 days. In combination with a blood test, these questions can help doctors give their patients more effective treatment. There are a few different prescription medications that can help patients reduce cravings and binge drinking and the BC Centre on Substance Use is planning to release guidelines later this year to assist doctors with the treatment of alcohol use disorder. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is also one of the treatments the Centre is advocating for. Why Effectively Managing Those Going Through Alcohol Withdrawal is Important People who consume a significant amount of alcohol can experience seizures, hallucinations, and become violently ill. Many of those trying to detox at home end up in emergency rooms due to the severity of their withdrawal symptoms. The Canadian Centre for Substance Use Research and the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction have conducted research that concludes that alcohol use costs Canadian taxpayers an annual $14.6 billion in health care, lost time at work, and the criminal justice system. The goal of the study is to train both family doctors who are doing ongoing care, and emergency room doctors who are seeing patients in distress to alleviate patient’s symptoms while setting them up for better long-term care that results in fewer hospitalizations. If you or a loved one is trying to detox from alcohol contact our specialist for help. References: Improve Severe Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment by Training Doctors: B.C. Study The post New Alcohol Withdrawal Training for Doctors appeared first on Canada Drug...
PEI Mental Health and Addictions Plan (Prince Edward Island)
The PEI mental health and addictions 10-year plan was developed only a few years ago and covers 2016 to 2026. The document, Moving Forward Together, Prince Edward Island’s Mental Health and Addictions Strategy has five main pillars: mental health promotion for people of all ages; access to the right service, treatment, and support; an innovative and collaborative workforce; invest early – focus on children, young people and families, foster recovery and well-being for people of all ages. Mental Health Promotion for People of All Ages The priorities the committee has outlined to accomplish this pillar are relatively general. Mental health promotion and illness prevention activities and programs are to be implemented for people of all ages at multiple levels of government and community organizations. There are a few specifics like implementing the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. Although, there doesn’t seem to be any specifics about what kind of promotion and prevention activities will be implemented and how they will help accomplish the priority. Access to the Right Services, Treatment, and Support To address wait times and access to services the committee is proposing an evidence-based model that is used in other countries like the UK, Australia, and NZ. This “Tiered Model” helps with planning, and organization and delivery of treatment and services. As you can see in the below diagram, this tiered approach to care is designed to provide the most appropriate and least intrusive services for patients and only step up to the next level as required. The committee has noted however that in tiers 3, 4, and 5 crucial infrastructure and services are missing to make this Tiered Model a reality. Tier 3 still needs therapeutic group homes and mental health urgent care, tier 4 calls for adult day treatment that is not available, and tier 5 requires a secure care unit which PEI does not have. These are all critical pieces of care infrastructure that are necessary for a functioning mental health and addictions system and need to be addressed immediately if any of their other goals are to be achieved. However, PEI only has a population of 150 000 and it can be hard to invest in large structures when realistically they won’t be accommodating a huge amount of people. An Innovative and Collaborative Workforce PEI has a shortage of mental health workers at all levels ie. psychologists to social workers to carers in group homes. In this plan, they are hoping to not only recruit more workers but also train and educate workers in core clinical competencies and evidence-based care. Invest Early – Focus on Children, Young People, and Families The committee acknowledges that 70% of mental illnesses develop before the age of 25. Their priorities are to help young people manage their mental health include closing service gaps, build capacity in primary care, and encourage more community programs and services. Foster Recovery and Well-being for People of All Ages This plan supports the notion of the mental health and addiction system being recovery-oriented. This is an evidence-based method of getting patients both the acute and long-term care they need. Conclusion The committee acknowledges that much of its plans for the future are not based on new ideas, but rather they are evidence-based and reflect what was found out during consultations. PEI is a small province with unique challenges. The plan is not necessarily ground-breaking but there are many good first steps outlined in this document. This action plan will be updated every two years, so when the 2018 update is published you will be able to read...
Pop-Up Overdose Prevention Site Snubs Ontario Government
Newly-elected Ontario Premier Doug Ford has been busy shaping the province since taking office in June of this year. One of his recent decrees has been to halt the establishment of any new supervised injection sites in Ontario. However, two Toronto activist groups have jointly opened an unsanctioned overdose prevention site in a west-end park in defiance. The Toronto Harm Reduction Alliance and the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society have partnered to offer overdose prevention services in the wake of Premier Ford’s decision. The Health Minister’s office ordered the freeze just three days prior to the scheduled opening of a previously approved site. The groups opened their new site close to where this previously approved site was to open. Police warned of a recent uptick in overdose deaths in this area during the first two weeks of August and the groups felt the need to act was great. The overdose prevention site has clean drug paraphernalia, naloxone, oxygen, and a defibrillator. The Toronto Overdose Prevention Society is not new to offering unsanctioned services. Just last year they opened a tent in Moss Park and within a year of operation acquired federal approval and a permanent location. The Society said that out of over 9000 uses at the Moss Park site, 251 people overdosed and all were brought back, without the use of the defibrillator. Ontario as a whole saw over 1200 overdose deaths in 2017. Despite overwhelming scientific and anecdotal evidence that taking a public health approach to addictions saves both lives and government dollars, the Health Minister and Premier are looking at investing more in law enforcement to tackle the issues. Police did not dismantle the Moss Park site, so it remains to be seen if they will act on this new site. References: Activist Group Opens Unsanctioned Overdose-Prevention Site in Toronto, Despite Ford Government Freeze The post Pop-Up Overdose Prevention Site Snubs Ontario Government appeared first on Canada Drug...