Addiction

Dangerous Games

Someone had the sense to call 911.

We’d been playing Beer Pong and the usual games. Even though the girl was wasted, she kept egging us on to play another round. Then someone suggested 21 for 21. Game on.

After a few times around the circle, she stumbled off to the bathroom. Not long after, my bladder was bursting. I banged on the door to get her to hurry up, but she didn’t answer. I tried the handle. It wasn’t locked, but something was blocking the door. With help from another guy, we managed to push our way in. She was on the floor, on her back, puke down the front of her, and she’d peed herself.

“Ew, gross,” the guy said and left.

I managed to roll her on her side. And that’s when she started to shake. I mean, really shake. I shouted for help.

It seemed like forever before the ambulance came. The paramedic said she had alcohol poisoning, which is scary shit. I Googled the long-term effects; they’re not pretty. 

We’re the same age, same size. That could’ve been me. You know, I actually drank more than she did. Something I do most weekends. I’m starting to wonder if maybe…I have a problem.

What are addictions?

Any number of disorders—also called substance abuse disorders—characterized by repetitive behaviours and an inability to control the urge to use substances, despite the growing dependency, increased amounts to get the same effects, and resulting harm. When using, a person experiences a temporary “fix,” but the dosage needed to re-experience the “high” tends to increase with frequent usage.

Addictions take many forms. A person may be addicted to:

• nicotine
• alcohol
• depressants or downers (Seconal, Valium, Xanax, Ambien)
• stimulants or uppers (meth, cocaine, crack, Adderall, Ritalin)
• opioid painkillers (heroine, morphine, codeine, methadone or other prescription pills)
• club drugs (MDMA, Ecstasy, Ketamine)
• hallucinogens (magic mushrooms, LSD)
• inhalants (glue, paint thinner, gasoline)
• synthetic drugs
• food or sugar
• caffeine
• gambling
• conspiracy theories
• social media and video games

Addiction by Numbers:

• 21% of Canadians will meet the criteria for addiction in their lifetimes
• 18% of Canadians are addicted to alcohol
• youth between the ages of 15-24 are more likely to experience substance use disorders than other age groups
• 20% of people with a mental illness also have a substance use problem
• people who use cannabis daily have a 25%-50% chance of developing an addiction
• 11.8% of Canadians use opioids
• people whose parents have an addiction to alcohol are four times more likely to develop an addiction to alcohol

How do you develop an addiction?

At first, a potentially addictive substance (cocaine) or behaviour (gambling) is pleasurable. Winning a jackpot or experiencing a high releases dopamine (associated with pleasure) in your brain. And because you’re only human, and we all like to feel good, you might like that feeling to happen again. And again.

Different drugs and behaviours tap into the dopamine reward circuit in different ways, and that’s why some, like heroine and nicotine, are more addictive than others, like caffeinated beverages. If you continue to use an addictive substance, you disrupt the normal dopamine circuitry:

• Brain adapts, tries to re-establish a balance between surges (brought on by substance/behaviour) and normal levels of dopamine
• Brain produces less dopamine or reduces receptors
• Cravings begin for the substance/behaviour to bring back higher dopamine levels
• Tolerance rises, and you need larger amounts of the substance
• Withdrawal begins, and you feel physically sick if you don’t get the substance

Risk factors for addiction:

• family history of mental health conditions (anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder)
• a family history of addiction or an addicted parent
• early onset: using drugs/alcohol at a younger age makes you more susceptible to addiction
• significant stressors (trauma, abuse)
• poor social support networks
• other mental illnesses

HELP! I need somebody

Experimenting with addictive substances does not always mean a person gets addicted. Some people, however, have addictive personalities or predispositions. Some substances/behaviours are more addictive than others.

Substance use and addiction are on a spectrum ranging from beneficial use (e.g. coffee/tea to stimulate alertness) to casual non-problematic use (e.g. a social drink after work) to problematic use (e.g. binge drinking) to chronic dependence (e.g. habitual use with negative consequences).

Seek help if you experience the 4Cs:

• Craving
• Loss of control of amount or frequency of use
• Compulsion to use
• Continued substance use, despite consequences

Try this at home

• remove reminders of your addiction from your home
• ask friends and family for help and support
• consult Kids Help Phone for resources and peer supports in your region
• self-monitor for cravings/triggers and seek a sober network
• get outside and explore nature
• explore your surroundings with your senses (pleasant smells, images, textures, etc.)
• exercise and eat well
• try yoga and meditation
• seek healthy ways to manage stress: explore life-enriching hobbies like photography, training a pet, listening to music, learning an instrument

Cultural strategy

Indigenous approaches to addiction treatment may be a “Two-Eyed Seeing approach”: an integration of Western and traditional practices that are as diverse as the cultures of people in recovery. Indigenous treatment for addictions may incorporate

• dancing, singing, drumming
• storytelling, talking circle
• land-based activities
• working with elders
• smudging and prayer

Musical Notes:

Music therapy may be used as a complementary treatment for addiction and can ease stress, helping people to focus on and adjust to the demands of recovery, to deal with difficult feelings, and to enhance a positive mood or to relieve low self-esteem, loneliness, and self-doubt.

Watch the TedTalk with professional musician, Mike Stevens, founder of ArtsCan Circle.

Professional harmonica player, Mike Stevens travels to remote Indigenous communities to share his music with youth addicted to solvents. He’s given away hundreds of harmonicas to help his young listeners discover music for themselves.

For more information:

• Kids Help Phone
• Addictions Treatment Helplines (by province & territory)
• The Lifeline Canada Foundation
• Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and Addiction
• CAMH Youth Addiction and Concurrent Disorders Service