Addiction Treatment for Club Drugs in Toronto
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Kate Pindera
15 Dec 2017
Much like the fentanyl and opioid crisis, club drug addiction is an ever-growing epidemic in Canada, as an increasing number of young adults continue to attend nightclubs, raves, house parties, and other social events with their friends where illicit substances are readily available. Club drugs include ecstasy, cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin, methamphetamines, stimulants, narcotics, and even opioids. In most cases, these substances are combined or taken in conjunction with marijuana or alcohol.
Freedom From Addiction offers extensive club drug rehab services in Toronto that are designed to help educate the general public about these types of drugs and their harmful effects. We also provide useful resources to help people recognize the potential signs of addiction, unusual mannerisms, as well as effective treatment programs that equally target the mental, emotional, and physical health of our patients.
Facts About Club Drugs in Canada
Statistics show that the popularity of club drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamines, ecstasy, MDMA, ketamine, LSD, and other types of substances has been steadily growing over the past 30 or so years. Many of these drugs can be consumed using a variety of methods including liquid ingestion (mixed into alcoholic drinks or intravenously injected) and powder form (inhalation through the nasal passages). Hallucinogens such as Mescaline (peyote) and Psilocybin (mushrooms) can either be smoked or eaten. Adding insult to injury, drugs such as Rohypnol (most commonly known as a date rape drug or roofie) are odourless and colourless, which makes it easier for predators in unsavoury environments that are frequented by young adults to spike the drinks of their prey, completely unbeknownst to the victims.
What Are the Effects of Club Drugs?
The effects of these substances vary based on the chemical compounds used, whether they’re combined or laced with certain substances, as well as the individual’s overall tolerance for them. Ultimately, the goal is to impair the senses or judgment of the person using the drugs and create a feeling of euphoria. This can result in severe memory loss wherein the person taking the drugs has no recollection of the events of the previous evening. Most of these effects last anywhere from 4-12 hours depending on the individual’s tolerance level and the amount consumed.
What Are the Signs of an Addiction?
The professional counsellors, psychiatrists, physicians, and drug addiction specialists at Freedom From Addiction have seen and worked with a wide range of addiction symptoms. Given our many years of experience in working with people who suffer from addictions, we’re completely well-versed in recognizing the telltale physical and behavioural signs of different types of addictions. These usually include:
- Heavy shaking
- Profuse sweating
- Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, disorientation
- Waking up in strange places or failing to come home when they say they will
- Partaking in long binging sessions
- Constantly needing drugs, even when they’re fully aware of the disparaging impact their addiction is having on their lives and the people around them
- Becoming financially destitute or constantly asking others for money to purchase drugs
- Putting drugs ahead of all other obligations, responsibilities, and even people in their lives
In a nutshell, someone who’s addicted to heavy drugs will do pretty much anything within their power to obtain a steady flow of the substances to which they’re addicted, regardless of how their habit is affecting other aspects of their life.
Why Are Club Drugs Particularly Dangerous?
There are several major reasons that make club drugs particularly dangerous in relation to other types of recreational drugs. For one thing, it’s important to take into account the fact that the people most likely to imbibe in these substances are adolescents or young adults who are still in the midst of their formative years. This means they’re still very impressionable and don’t necessarily comprehend the full scope of the decisions they’re making and how they can affect their futures due to lack of life experience. Another crucial point to consider is how easily accessible many of these drugs are to young people as well as the lengths they’re usually willing to go in order to obtain them, not to mention the fact that many youths tend to willingly surrender to peer pressure just to fit in. All of these seemingly minor decisions have the capacity to alter a person’s life significantly and result in a lifelong battle with mental illness and drug addiction. Think of it as a sort of domino effect.
How Can Addiction to Club Drugs Be Treated?
First and foremost, if you suspect that someone you know may be addicted to any sort of strong substance; you should pay attention to their behavioural habits and any changes in their physical state. The next step is to speak to them in an understanding, supportive, and non-judgmental manner and perhaps suggest enrolling them in a club drug rehabilitation program such as the ones offered by Freedom From Addiction.
As one of the few privately owned drug and alcohol rehab centers in Canada that’s accreditation from Accreditation Canada, we pride ourselves on providing the best rehabilitation services to our patients. Our facility employs the highest standards and practices when it comes to providing personalized addiction care and rehabilitation in Ontario. We offer intensive counselling, onsite medical detoxification services, as well as lifetime aftercare for patients and their family members. At Freedom From Addiction, we work hard every day to meet the expectations of our patients and their families as well as to create a comforting and supportive environment that’s specifically designed to improve the situations and lives of our patients and their families. For more information on our exclusive drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs, please feel free to contact us today.