Alcohol Archives - Freedom Addiction

A person crossing their fingers behind their back.

10 Things Addicts Say to Justify Their Alcohol Addiction

Mandy Sandhu
19 Dec 2022

The lies we tell to preserve our dignity are sometimes necessary. Other times, they’re downright destructive. The things addicts say to justify their actions could be influenced by their need to belong, to avoid judgment, or to maintain their bad habits. Understanding that people with addiction may feel challenged in many different ways will help guide them in the right...

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Blue and white pills spilling out of a glass onto a table

What Happens When You Mix Alcohol and Ativan?

Mandy Sandhu
5 Dec 2022

Ativan is the brand name that dispenses lorazepam as a generic medication, and is only accessible by having a prescription from your doctor. While this drug is mainly used to combat anxiety, it has highly addictive components that can lead to substance abuse. Moreover, when intake is mixed with alcohol (which is often the substance abused with Ativan), it can...

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Understanding the 5 Types of Alcoholism

Mandy Sandhu
7 Nov 2022

There are several different classification systems that identify types of alcoholism and alcoholics. These typologies are created to effectively understand the cause of or the influence behind alcoholism, and hopefully with that knowledge, be able to treat them. One widely-acknowledged classification system is physiologist Elvin Jellinek’s 5 Alcoholism Species, which identifies 5 different forms of alcoholism differentiated by level of...

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Woman saying no to alcohol after drug and alcohol addiction treatment

8 Helpful Ways to Resist the Temptation to Drink Alcohol

Mandy Sandhu
4 Aug 2022

Learning to resist temptation lies at the heart of any attempt at drug or alcohol addiction treatment. Temptation is often a lifelong struggle that drug and alcohol addicts need to cope with. It is the overwhelming urge to relapse when the right conditions are met, such as certain emotions, events, or sensations are presented. And without adequate knowledge and discipline,...

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A captain saluting during a Veteran’s Day ceremony

The Importance of Substance and Alcohol Addiction Treatment for Veterans

Mandy Sandhu
14 Feb 2022

What does patriotism mean? If there’s anyone out there who truly knows, it’s veterans. Whether they’ve served in the military, navy, or air service, they’ve spent a significant portion of their lives on active or reserved duty. Some have even put their lives on the line or have been disabled in the process of serving and protecting their country. Unfortunately,...

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A man holding an empty glass in one hand, and a bottle of beer in another

How Quitting Drinking Affects the Body

Mandy Sandhu
29 Mar 2021

Alcohol consumption can be harmless to some, with the occasional beer or cocktail on the weekend or on game nights; but for others, it is considered an addiction. Alcohol is the most abused substance in Canada and it affects a significant percentage of the population. When an individual decides to quit drinking, there will be changes in the body, and...

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The Cost of Addiction on Your Life

Mandy Sandhu
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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Teenage Drinking: What’s Normal? | Freedom From Addiction

Identifying and Dealing with Teenage Drinking

Mandy Sandhu
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 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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Group counselling session within a substance abuse treatment centre

How Poor Public Funding Affects Substance Abuse Treatment Centres

Mandy Sandhu
9 Sep 2020

Many countries around the globe are dealing with addiction at colossal levels - around 11.8 million people die from substance use every year. In the United States, nearly 21 million Americans struggle with at least one addiction and require access to substance abuse treatment centres, but only 10% receive proper treatment. The same is true for Canada; studies suggest at...

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