The Addiction & Recovery Resource Blog

The Cost of Addiction on Your Life

• Kate Pindera
• 28 Feb 2021

Addiction, whether it be to substances or alcohol, is detrimental to a person suffering from it and to the people close to them. The cost of addiction bears many negative effects on important life foundations, such as family ties, social relationships, careers, and financial stability. In fact, there is a strong correlation between addiction and poverty, and this is only...

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How Would Canada Deal With Decriminalizing Illegal Drugs?

• Kate Pindera
• 19 Feb 2021

Decriminalizing illegal drugs has been an ongoing topic of national conversation. In 2020, Canada’s police chiefs have expressed support for the decriminalization of personal drug possession and the use of illegal drugs. Drug reform groups and health agencies such as the Canadian Public Health Association have voiced out congruence in this notion. The question is, would it bear positive effects...

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Identifying and Dealing with Teenage Drinking

• Kate Pindera
• 5 Feb 2021

Most parents experience the effects of teenage drinking at some point during their children’s adolescent years. While many factors can influence drinking, such as pop culture or the influence of friends, it is important to know that alcohol is the most commonly abused substance in Canada. Teenagers are exposed to alcohol as much as adults are. In 2019, seven million...

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The Many Benefits of Group Therapy

• Kate Pindera
• 29 Jan 2021

The sense of belongingness is a basic human need. This is the reason why group therapy works in many ways for people going through counselling programs. The benefits of group therapy encompass a wide range of problems; it can help people stay clean and it can address any adjacent mental health issues.  In Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, “belonging” is...

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Group Therapy vs. Individual Therapy: What’s Right for You

• Mandy Sandhu
• 15 Jan 2021

Counselling, or therapy, is an essential part of your journey towards clarity and sobriety. Its main forms, individual therapy and group therapy, are administered in conjunction with other elements of your treatment. The majority of research related to these methods suggests that both types are effective for dealing with any type of problem, and learning the difference between group therapy...

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A Helpful Guide to Your First Counselling Session

• Kate Pindera
• 1 Jan 2021

At any given year, 1 in every 5 Canadians experience addiction, and because of this, counselling is an integral part of the rehabilitation process. Making the decision to seek help for an addiction is one of the most important things you can do. Once you have gone through the detoxification process, you might feel ready for your first counselling session....

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The Dangers of Smoking Marijuana at a Young Age

• Kate Pindera
• 30 Dec 2020

Over the years, cannabis or marijuana use has grown to become mainstream, especially in Canada and some American states where it's been legalized for recreational and medicinal purposes. Despite its purported benefits, the long-term effects of marijuana are still a major cause of concern, particularly for teenagers who are exposed to it at such a young age. Marijuana Use Among...

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Peer Pressure and Drugs: What Parents Need to Know

• Kate Pindera
• 16 Dec 2020

The desire to be accepted, wanted, and fit in is a natural and basic human instinct. However, it can be a little too intense for teenagers as they are especially vulnerable during this time in their lives due to a general lack of self-esteem. This is where peer pressure comes in. It's choosing to do things you wouldn't otherwise think...

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The Sad Truth About Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FASDs)

• Mandy Sandhu
• 2 Dec 2020

We’ve all come across a situation where we’ve witnessed a pregnant friend, loved one, or even a complete stranger indulging in a glass of wine during a “special occasion.” So, how much alcohol is OK during pregnancy? Can drinking alcohol harm an unborn child?  In this article, we break down everything you need to know about fetal alcohol syndrome and...

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Nature vs. Nurture: What Is the True Cause of Addiction?

• Kate Pindera
• 30 Nov 2020

Is addiction a case of nature vs. nurture? The ongoing debate as to whether substance abuse disorders are caused by genetics or influenced by environmental factors that a person encounters in their lifetime is discussed at length in this blog. It’s a critical question that can pave the way for better understanding of the possible triggers of addiction in order...

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