Substance Use

Question 1

What is the mmost used substance in Canada?

Answer 1

Alcohol

Question 2

How has the legalization of Cannabis changed the use/addiction of it?

Answer 2

In no way, the addiction/use range has not changed since then

Question 3

Which Age range has seen a rise in cocaine use?

Answer 3

the 20-24 year olds

Question 4

Are Gambling addicts changing in the last years?

Answer 4

They have gone down

Question 5

What is going on with Methamphetamine related deaths?

Answer 5

On the rise

Question 6

How are Opioids affecting Young Adults?

Answer 6

They are twice more likely to be the cause of an opioid overdose emergency.

Question 7

What about the people experiencing homelessness?

Answer 7

The 30-39 years range is considerably higher in substance users. Having a house decreases substance use.

Question 8

Name some of the factors that influence substance use

Answer 8

• SES
• Housing
• Pre-existing mental health condition
• Race & Ethnicity (First Nations & Opioid crisis)
• Gender (males > females)
• Personal history of trauma and abuse

Question 9

What is the alcohol harm paradox? What are the causes of this?

Answer 9

The people with the lowest incomes do less heavy drinking, and yet, they are 2 times as likely to be hospitalized for conditions caused by alcohol.
This may be caused by higher stress levels, limited social support and a poor diet + physical inactivity.

Question 10

Name some physiological effects of heavy drinking.

Answer 10

• Aggressive irrational behaviour, arguments, violence, depression, nervousness
• Alcohol dependence/memory loss
• Premature ageing (drinker’s nose)
• Throat & mouth cancer
• Frequent colds, lower immunity, lower infection resistance, higher pneumonia risk
• Heart muscle weakness, heart failure, anemia, impaired blood clotting, breast cancer
• Liver damage
• Vitamin deficiency, bleeding, stomach inflammation, vomiting, diarrhea, malnutrition
• Trembling hands, tingling fingers, numbness, painful nerves
• Pancreas inflammation
• Ulcer
• Men: impaired sexual performance
• Women: Risk of deformities at the birth of their child or low-weight babies
• Impaired sensation, leading to falls
• Numb, tingling toes, painful nerves

Question 11

What are the Low-Risk alcohol guidelines in Canada?

Answer 11

No risk: 0
Low risk: 1-2
Moderate risk: 3-6
High risk: 7 and +

Question 12

What are some of the consequences of drinking?

Answer 12

Breast cancer, heart disease, stroke.

Question 13

Are there health benefits to alcohol?

Answer 13

No. Health risk increases with even 1 glass a week

Question 14

What is the recommendation that cancer specialists made about alcohol?

Answer 14

Putting a similar label to the cigarette ones in Canada.

Question 15

éwhat are some of the potential benefits to Canabis?

Answer 15

• may help with alcohol & opioid addiction
• may help with symptoms of depression, PTSD, anxiety
• may help with alleviating chemotherapy side effects
• may help with medical conditions such as MS and epilepsy

Question 16

What are some of the Health Risks associated with Cannabis?

Answer 16

• Exacerbates mental health issues
• Cyclic vomiting syndrome
• 2-3 times more likely to get in a vehicular accident (DUI)
• Accidental use by children is possible
• Memory loss (smaller hippocampus = lower performance in decision making, attention & planning)
• Low growth hormone & thyroid hormone concentration (help with metabolism and brain function)
• Infertility
• Cancer risk higher for: Oral, lung, blood, larynx, pharynx & prostate
• Hallucinations/irregular emotions and behaviour
• enlarged liver hepatomegaly
• Hypotension (weakening of heart muscle)
• COPD, Lung, Cancer, Lung fibrosis, Pneumonia
• Loss of Body Immunity/Immunosupport
• teratogenesis (malformed child at birth)

Question 17

What is CBD/CBD oil?

Answer 17

It is the oil of the non-psychoactive ingredient of marijuana (less than 1%)

Question 18

What is CBD oil used for?

Answer 18

• reducing inflammation related to autoimmune disease
• minor joint & muscle pain
• reducing anxiety & nervousness
• helping to promote sleep

Question 19

What is going on with Opioids in Canada

Answer 19

The number of deaths caused by opioids overuse is on the rise.

Question 20

What is the real facts behind the opioids and tus “crisis”?

Answer 20

• Dosage can be lethal in one dose
• Sometimes, the dose is tainted with other, dangerous, drugs
• All users are at risk, not just addicts
• Not only from injections, from smoking it too
• It is not a “homeless street problem” as opioids are literally everywhere

Question 21

Hat ois Naloxone?

Answer 21

it is a fast-acting drug that temporarily reverses opioid overdoses.

Question 22

What are some of the symptoms of and overdose?

Answer 22

• blue lips/nails
• drowsiness/difficulty staying awake
• can’t be woken up
• choking/gurgling/snoring sounds

Question 23

How to help with Alcohol and Support recovery?

Answer 23

Helping with addiction is about helping the whole other person. the 4 pillars are Preventation, Treatment, Harm reduction, justice & community safety

Question 24

Why is there disproportional opioid use within the First Nations?

Answer 24

because of intergenerational trauma (residential schools, sexual abuse, colonization, etc.)

Question 25

Why is the gap bigger between First Nations and non-First Nations in opioid use?

Answer 25

Because of Racism & Stigma, lack of access to treatment, social determinants and intergenerational trauma

Question 26

What are the 4 pillars to follow to help with the opioid crisis that First Nations are experiencing?

Answer 26

• Prevent people overdosing from dying
• Keep people safe when using substances
• Create an accessible range off treatment options