SHAPING A BETTER FUTURE FOR PEOPLE WHO USE SUBSTANCES

THIS YEAR'S THEME FOR NATIONAL ADDICTIONS AWARENESS WEEK IS ABOUT COLLABORATING TO CREATE CHANGE, WRITES MICHELLE LEWIS

National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW) is taking place from Nov. 21 to 27. An initiative of the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse (CCSA), the week provides an opportunity for Canadians to learn more about substance abuse prevention, to talk about treatment and recovery, and to bring forward solutions for change.

This year's theme, Driving Change Together, highlights how individuals can collaborate to create change and shape a brighter future for people who use substances.

It's an issue that is more important than ever.

Addictions affect everyone. Many of us have a family member, a friend or a colleague who is suffering. It might even be us. And those with a mental illness are twice as likely to have a substance use concern than the general population.

Youth 15 to 24 years old have the highest rate of addiction at 11 per cent, and men have higher rates of addiction than women. In fact, 10 per cent of people in Ontario have a substance misuse issue.

Statistics from Public Health Ontario show that 2020 was the worst year on record for opioid-related deaths. More than 2,400 people died last year, which is a 60 per cent increase over 2019 when more than 1,500 deaths were reported. And of the most recent opioid-related deaths in Peel (January to March 2021) fentanyl was detected in 96 per cent of deaths, according to the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario's Opioid Investigative Aid for the same period.

Opioid overdoses are now the leading cause of death for people aged 30 to 39 in Canada.

What is happening? We've been more isolated and lonelier during the pandemic and it's important to remember that addiction and substance misuse are often connected to a person's lived experience and their behaviour patterns.

At Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Peel Dufferin, we try to do all we can for the mental health of our community, and we are strong supporters of harm-reduction approaches when it comes to the opioid crisis.

Opioid-related overdoses were a crisis before the pandemic and continue to be a crisis. Through our supports including our Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinics, which offer low-barrier, immediate access to substance use management strategies, we continue to support those who need it in a safe and accessible way. We also help our clients with harm-reduction tactics, peer support workers, concurrent disorder specialists, trauma therapists, registered nurses and nurse practitioners.

Many people who experience addiction or substance misuse issues also experience stigma and discrimination, which can result in loss of self-esteem, a fear of seeking treatment, or feelings of isolation. We try to help break that cycle and remind our clients that recovery is possible, and we will walk with them on that journey.

For more information, please visit Rapid Access Addiction Medicine and CMHA Peel Dufferin.

For emergencies call 91-1. If you, or someone you know, are in crisis, you can call CMHA Peel Dufferin 24/7 at 905-278-9036 or 1-888811-2222.

CMHA'S Peel Dufferin branch offers services to youth and adults experiencing an addictions or mental health crisis, seniors with dementia, those navigating the court systems, people who are homeless or facing imminent homelessness, and family and caregivers.