Screening and Assessment Substance Abuse Disorders (SUD)
Begin your recovery journey today by consulting with one of our specialists to assess your level of substance abuse disorder and to develop the most effective treatment plan for long-term success.
At Interventions Canada, our licensed professionals adhere to the standards for treating substance use disorder (SUD) as outlined by The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
Substance Abuse Disorder (SUD) is characterized by a persistent pattern of symptoms that arise from substance use, which individuals continue despite suffering adverse consequences.
The DSM-5 outlines 11 criteria for substance misuse, divided into four main categories: impaired control, physical dependence, social impairment, and risky use. SUD severity is classified as mild, moderate, or severe, encompassing:
Substance use disorder is the medical term used to describe a pattern of using a substance that causes significant problems or distress. Substance use disorder, as a recognized medical brain disorder, refers to the use of illegal substances, such as marijuana, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, or prescription medications.
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 the rise in fentanyl overdose deaths and the widespread access to it. Heroin is an opioid analgesic synthesized from morphine.
Is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.There are two types of fentanyl: pharmaceutical fentanyl and illegally made fentanyl. Both are considered synthetic opioids (made in a laboratory). Pharmaceutical fentanyl is prescribed by doctors to treat severe pain, especially after surgery and for advanced-stage pain. Illegally made fentanyl (IMF) is available on the drug market in different forms, including liquid and powder. Powdered fentanyl looks just like many other drugs. It is commonly mixed with drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine and made into pills that are made to resemble other prescription opioids. Drugs mixed with fentanyl are extremely dangerous, and many people may be unaware that their drugs contain it.
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:
There are three approved medications for OUD:
1) Buprenorphine (commonly known by brand-name Suboxone)
2) Methadone
3) Naltrexone
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 the body’s organs.
Signs of alcohol use disorder are:
Last year, over 80,000 Canadian teenagers used prescription drugs for the sole purpose to get high. Even though these may be medications prescribed by doctors, they are highly addictive and can be extremely dangerous when not taken as prescribed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Marijuana use comes with real risks that can impact a person’s life. Especially today as more and more people are dying due to marijuana being laced with other drugs. Marijuana alone taken in large doses can cause acute psychosis, which includes hallucinations, delusions, and a loss of the sense of personal identity.
Marijuana also affects brain development. Marijuana is one of the most used, and highly addictive substances, and its use is growing with its legalization in many areas of the world. 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.
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.
