Resources - Interventions Canada

Resources for Families

At Interventions Canada We have wealth of professional knowledge and experience for the treatment of substance abuse disorders, mental health conditions and behavioral health. Ms. Pike has over 25 years working both in the United States and Canada. Mental health and substance use disorders affect people from all walks of life and all age groups. These illnesses are common, recurrent, and often serious, but they are treatable, and many people do recover. Mental disorders involve changes in thinking, mood, and/or behavior. These disorders can affect how we relate to others and make choices. Reaching a level that can be formally diagnosed often depends on a reduction in a person’s ability to function because of the disorder. (Reference from Samsha)

For Example:

Serious mental illness is defined by someone over 18 having (within the past year) a diagnosable mental, behavior, or emotional disorder that causes serious functional impairment that substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.

For people under the age of 18, the term “Serious Emotional Disturbance” refers to a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder in the past year, which resulted in functional impairment that substantially interferes with or limits the child’s role or functioning in family, school, or community activities.

Substance use disorders occur when the recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs causes clinically significant impairment, including health problems, disability, and failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home.

What is Mental Health? (Reference from Samsha) Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and helps determine how we manage stress, relate to others, and make choices.

What is substance use disorder? (Reference from John Hopkins Medicine)

Substance use disorder is the medical term used to describe a pattern of using a substance (drug) that causes significant problems or distress. This may be missing work or school, using the substance in dangerous situations, such as driving a car. It may lead to substance-related legal problems, or continued substance use that interferes with friendships, family relationships, or
both.Substance use disorder, as a recognized medical brain disorder, refers to the use of illegal substances, such as marijuana, heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamine. Or the misuse of legal substances, such as alcohol, nicotine, or prescription medicines. Alcohol is the most common legal drug associated with substance use disorder.

Heroin is an opioid analgesic synthesized from morphine. Morphine occurs naturally in the seeds of the Asian poppy plant. Heroin is 2-4 times stronger than morphine. It appears as a white or brown powder or as a black gummy substance. Illicit heroin contains adulterants and potentially toxic substances used to dilute the drug.

Signs of heroin use include:
Cycles of wakefulness with sudden, momentary dozing
Pinpoint constriction of pupils
Runny nose
Picking at skin, infection at injection sites
Weight loss
Change in behavior such as: withdrawal, isolation, lying, apathy, stealing, hostility, decreased attention to hygiene.
Burned silver spoons, aluminum foil with burn marks, syringes.
Opioid Use Disorder opioid use disorder, or opioid addiction, is a chronic disease that affects millions of Americans. While heroin addiction has affected many Americans for decades, there has been more attention on the opioid epidemic in recent years due to rise in opioid overdose deaths and spread of heroin to parts of the country that did not have it. (Reference from John Hopkins Medicine)
The first phase of the opioid epidemic started in the 1990s and was due to prescription opioids (like oxycodone); the second phase was due largely to heroin; and the current phase is due to illegal fentanyl. Myths and Misconceptions.
Myth #1: Anyone who takes prescription opioids for pain has an opioid addiction. Fact: Addiction is defined by loss of control, compulsive use and continued use despite harm. Many patients take opioid medications as prescribed and are not addicted.
Myth #2: Most overdose deaths are due to prescriptions for opioids. Fact: Since 2013, most opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. are due to fentanyl, a very strong synthetic opioid that is mixed into heroin and other drugs.
Myth #3: Taking a medication for opioid use disorder, like buprenorphine or methadone, is just substituting one addiction for another. Fact: While these medications still cause a physical dependence and patients experience physical withdrawal when they stop taking them, this does not mean that someone is addicted if they are taking it as prescribed by their doctor. (Remember the “3 Cs” of addiction.)
Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder Opioid use disorder (OUD) can be a devastating disease when untreated. Fortunately, effective treatment is available.
There are three approved medications for OUD:
1) Buprenorphine (commonly known by brand-name Suboxone)
2) Methadone
3) Naltrexone

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ALCOHOL ADDICTION
The intoxicating ingredient found in beer, wine and liquor is ethyl alcohol. It is a central nervous system depressant, absorbed rapidly from the stomach and small intestines into the bloodstream. Alcohol affects the brain within 10 minutes after consumption and affects all body organs.

The way alcohol affects the brain and body depends on the amount consumed.A drink is equal to 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or
1.5 ounces of liquor. Moderate consumption is considered 1 drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. Binge drinking occurs after 4 drinks for a woman and 5 drinks for a man within 2 hours. This correlates to a blood alcohol level of .08g/dl. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), defines heavy drinking as 5 or more drinks on each of 5 or more days in the past 30 days.

Signs of alcohol use disorder are:
Increased tolerance to alcohols effects
Feelings of anxiety, depression, and irritability when alcohol is not consumed
Craving alcohol
Sweating, headache, nausea and vomiting and insomnia when alcohol wears off
A desire to stop, but efforts are unsuccessful The cause of alcohol addiction is complex. Alcohol activates the reward system in the brain through the neurotransmitter dopamine and a compulsive need for that release evolves. Risk factors for developing alcohol addiction include:
Genetic influences
Environmental factors
Mental health problems such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia
Questionnaire as alcohol screening tool; it consists of four questions. When two or more
questions are positive, alcohol abuse is considered a problem.
"Have you ever felt the need to cut down on drinking?"
"Have you ever felt annoyed by criticism of drinking?"
"Have you ever felt guilty about drinking?”
"Have you ever taken a drink first thing in the morning as an eye opener? Examples of the many adverse physical effects of chronic alcohol use are:
Brain: Alcohol increases the release of dopamine in the reward center in the brain. It also depresses brain function through its action on other neurotransmitters. Alcohol causes inflammation in the brain and impairs brain development. The developing brain of a fetus or teen is particularly at risk for long lasting damage. It impedes the ability to process information, make decisions, control emotions, make memories and move with coordination. Alcohol also interferes with the brain’s regulation of body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate.
Heart: Chronic drinking causes the heart to enlarge, making it a less efficient pump, increases
blood pressure and causes irregular heart rhythms.
Liver: Moderate alcohol consumption can increase the risk of liver disease. Chronic use causes inflammation leading to hepatitis, cirrhosis, and cancer. Toxins released into the blood stream are an additional cause of brain inflammation and personality change.
Pancreas: Pancreatic inflammation, pancreatitis, causes severe pain and can lead to pancreatic cancer. Pancreatitis causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and sweating. Malabsorption of nutrients from the intestines and blood sugar problems can also result from chronic pancreatitis.
Lungs: Chronic alcohol use impairs lung function and can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Over time, the brain compensates for the depressant effects of alcohol by producing stimulating chemicals. The stimulant effects of these chemicals result in most of the symptoms of
alcohol withdrawal. These symptoms usually appear within 10 hours after alcohol has stopped:
Flu-like symptoms, sweating, clammy skin
Tremors, anxiety, irritability, depression, insomnia, nightmares, fatigue
Rapid heart rate, increased blood pressure, rapid breathing, dilated pupils
Craving for alcohol
Visual, auditory, or tactile
hallucinations may occur 12-24 hours after alcohol has stopped. Delirium tremens may appear suddenly or develop over 24-48 hours. DT is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition requiring hospitalization.
DT symptoms:
Extreme increase in heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate
Profuse sweating, fever
Severe anxiety with a sense of “impending doom”
Perceptual disturbance with visions of insects or rats
Hallucinations are complete without any recognition of the real world
Tremors
Seizures

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PRESCRIPTION DRUG ADDICTION
Last year, over 80,000 Canadian teenagers used prescription drugs to get high, even though it can be extremely dangerous. What are prescription pain relievers? Prescription pain relievers include the opioid class of drugs, such as hydrocodone (i.e., Vicodin), oxycodone (i.e., OxyContin), morphine, fentanyl, and codeine.

Opioids work by mimicking the body’s natural pain-relieving chemicals, attaching to receptors in the brain to block the perception of pain.
Opioids can produce drowsiness, nausea, constipation, and slow breathing. Opioids also can induce euphoria by affecting the brain regions that mediate what we perceive as pleasure.

Dangers when abused:
Highly addictive
Can slow one's breathing to dangerous levels, including accidental overdose
Particularly dangerous when used in combination with alcohol What are tranquillizers and sedatives?
Tranquillizers and sedatives are central nervous system depressants, such as Xanax, Valium, and Librium, which are often prescribed to treat anxiety, panic attacks and sleep disorders. Central nervous system depressants, known as barbiturates and benzodiazepines, slow normal
brain function to produce a drowsy or calming effect.
Dangers when abused:
Can slow breathing and heartbeat, especially if combined with other prescriptions, alcohol, or over the counter (OTC) cold and allergy medications
Can lead to withdrawal and seizures when discontinued after prolonged use What are stimulants?
Stimulants such as Ritalin, Adderall and Dexedrine increase alertness, attention and energy and are often prescribed for health conditions such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, narcolepsy, and depression.
Stimulants enhance the effects of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain, increase blood pressure and heart rate, constrict blood vessels, and open up the pathways of the respiratory system. They can also produce a sense of euphoria.
Dangers when abused:
Addictive
Can create extremely high body temperature
Can cause seizures/irregular heartbeat Recognizing prescription drug abuse, symptoms include:
Stealing, forging, or selling prescriptions
Taking higher doses than prescribed
Excessive mood swings
Increase or decrease in sleep
Poor decision-making
Appearing to be high, unusually energetic or revved up, or sedated
Continually "losing" prescriptions, so more prescriptions must be written

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MARIJUANA ADDICTION
What is marijuana? Reference from Samsha and Nida Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. The plant contains the mind-altering chemical delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other related compounds.

Extracts with high amounts of THC can also be made from the cannabis plant (see “Marijuana Extracts”). Marijuana use comes with real risks that can impact a person’s health and life are more common when a person takes too much, the marijuana has an unexpectedly high potency, or the person is inexperienced. People who have taken large doses of marijuana may experience an acute psychosis, which includes hallucinations, delusions, and a loss of the sense of personal identity. These unpleasant but temporary reactions are distinct from longer-lasting psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, which may be associated with the use of marijuana in vulnerable individuals.

Other effects include altered senses (for example, seeing brighter colors) o altered sense of time o changes in mood o impaired body movement, difficulty with thinking and problem-solving o impaired memory Long-term effects.
Marijuana also affects brain development. When marijuana users begin using as teenagers, the drug may reduce thinking, memory, and learning functions and affect how the brain builds
connections between the areas necessary for these functions.
Marijuana's effects on these abilities may last a long time or even be permanent.
For example, a study showed that people who started smoking marijuana heavily in their teens
and had an ongoing cannabis use disorder lost an average of eight IQ points between ages 13 and 38. The lost mental abilities did not fully return in those who quit marijuana as adults. Those who started smoking marijuana as adults did not show notable IQ declines (Meier, 2012).

Marijuana is one of the most commonly used illegal substance in the U.S. and its use is growing. Marijuana use among all adult age groups, both sexes, and pregnant women is going up. At the same time, the perception of how harmful marijuana use can be is declining. Increasingly, young
people today do not consider marijuana use a risky behavior.
But there are real risks for people who use marijuana, especially youth and young adults, and women who are pregnant or nursing. Today’s marijuana is stronger than ever before. People can and do become addicted to marijuana.

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Approximately 1 in 10 people who use marijuana will become addicted. When they start before
age 18, the rate of addiction rises to 1 in 6.

The following is a screening tool that can help you determine if your loved one has a problem and/or to help your family too with professional help.

If you answer “Yes” to any of the questions, you need to seek professional help:

Are you being held hostage by an untreated person’s addictions and/or behaviors?
Do you feel like your family or friends are also being held, hostage?
Do you feel like you are walking around on eggshells or uncomfortable in your own home, because of your loved one’s addictions and/or behaviors?
Are you lying to your partner, children, friends or others about your loved one’s addiction and/or behaviors?
Are you engaging and debating with your loved one, unaware or fully aware you are enabling your loved one’s addictions and/or behaviors?
Do you give in because you feel beat down by an untreated person’s addictions and/or behaviors? Do you feel like you just cannot deal with the situation and give in, even when you swear to yourself that you will not?
Are you lying to yourself and others to hide their problems or attempt to protect their reputation?
Do you feel like you are keeping your loved one alive by letting them stay at home, and/or use drugs?
Are you being consumed and controlled by your concerns about their safety and wellbeing daily?
Are you staying awake at night or losing sleep worrying about how you are going to help or come up with funds to solve your loved one’s problems?
Do you feel that you are living part of your loved one’s life by involving yourself with buying drugs and alcohol and hiding it from everyone?
Are you seeing a progression in the use of drugs and/or alcohol which is increasing and causing more damage in your loved one’s life?
Are you feeling embarrassed, ashamed, and alone, or trapped in your loved one’s addiction and/or behavior patterns?
Has your loved one been convicted of a crime for drug or alcohol-related issues, or have you put yourself into a risky situation because of your loved one’s lifestyle?
Do you feel abused daily by your loved one’s addictions and/or behaviors?
Are you being truthful with yourself that your loved one has a chronic addiction?
Are there any children negatively impacted by your loved one’s addictions and/or behaviors?

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Information on mental health and substance abuse disorders

The following links are to provide you with additional mental health and addiction information.

Associations & Institutes
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
American Counseling Association
American Psychiatric Association
American Psychological Association
American Psychological Society
Center for Mental Health Services
Mental Health America
MentalHealth.gov/
National Institute of Mental Health
National Mental Health Association
National Eating Disorders Association
National Sleep Foundation
National Women’s Health Resource Center
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Suicide Awareness and Hotlines
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
Suicide: Read This First
Depression
Bipolar Disorder News – Pendulum.org
Depression and How Therapy Can Help
Depression Screening
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
Anxiety Disorders
Answers to Your Questions About Panic Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Beyond OCD
International OCD Foundation
Trichotillomania Learning Center
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
National Center for PTSD
Give an Hour— for veterans and their families.
National Center for PTSD Real Warriors (U.S. Department of Defense)— for veterans and their families
The Gift From Within
Sidran Institute
Addiction and Recovery
Alcoholics Anonymous
Center for On-Line Addiction
Web of Addictions
Eating Disorders
American Dietetic Association
Personality Disorders
Mental Help Net – Personality Disorders
Personality Disorders
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADDA – Attention Deficit Disorder Association
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, NIMH
Child Abuse and Domestic Violence
Childhelp USA®
Questions and Answers about Memories of Childhood Abuse
The National Domestic Violence Hotline Website
Developmental Disorders
NeuroWeb
Diagnosis
DSM-V: Diagnoses and Criteria
Medication
DrugWatch.com provides up-to-date information about prescription and over-the-counter medications, including details about associated side effects.
Drugalert.org is a comprehensive database with information and news alerts about potentially dangerous drugs currently on the market or previously available worldwide.

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Resources for Families

Opioid Use Disorder:

ALCOHOL ADDICTION

PRESCRIPTION DRUG ADDICTION

MARIJUANA ADDICTION

The following is a screening tool that can help you determine if your loved one has a problem and/or to help your family too with professional help.

Information on mental health and substance abuse disorders

Quick Links

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