Substance Abuse Treatment Toronto | Freedom From Addiction

Substance Abuse Treatment in Toronto

The terms substance abuse and addiction are often mistakenly used interchangeably within everyday vernacular, but many people don’t realize that there’s a slight difference between the two concepts and this difference could be the determining factor between helping someone overcome their problem and accidentally perpetuating it. Substance abuse is one notch directly below full-blown addiction. What this means is that people who abuse substances such as various types of drugs or alcohol tend to have greater control over their vice or indulgences than those who are fully addicted. This fact doesn’t diminish the severity of the situation when it comes to substance abuse, but it does make it a lot easier to comprehend the issue and help the affected person. If you or someone you know is suffering from a similar problem and are in need of substance abuse treatment in Toronto, then it’s recommended that you seek the help of an experienced and qualified addiction counsellor or specialist immediately.

What Is Substance Abuse?

As mentioned, people who suffer from and exhibit signs of potential substance abuse generally have been able to retain some minimal level of control over their problem. For instance, they’re able to hide it better than someone with a full-blown addiction and they haven’t yet reached the point where it’s taken over their life. However, chemical substance abusers develop a strong dependency on these substances in order to help them get through their daily lives without realizing that there are healthier and more conducive ways of dealing with their mental, emotional, and physical issues. In fact, the incorporation of chemical substances can often amplify these types of issues.

Additionally, their increased tolerance level over time only means that they need higher volumes in order to achieve the same high or euphoric sensation, which in turn, leads to more problems as it becomes harder and harder to a) hide the problem from others and b) acquire and take larger doses of the substances in question. In a lot of cases, it’s not simply the chemical reaction in the brain that gives substance abusers that desired high; sometimes, it can also be the act of doing something they enjoy without having to face the scrutiny or judgment of others that can produce that good feeling they crave.

Types of Substance Abuse

There are many different factors that can constitute substance abuse, some of which are circumstantial. A person’s social and personal environment, the type of substance that’s most readily available to the person in question, and even the person’s family history can all impact their decision and impulse to abuse a certain substance. If someone has a family history of drug or alcohol abuse, then they’re most likely to follow in the same footsteps of their relatives. Here’s a list of some of the most commonly abused substances:

Alcohol

Stimulants (uppers such as cocaine, methamphetamines,caffeine,and some over-the-counter medications)

Depressants(downers such as heroin,opiates,sedatives,painkillers,over-the-counter prescription medications)

Psychedelic Drugs (mushrooms, ketamine, ecstasy, LSD, etc.)

Marijuana

Causes of Substance Abuse

There are numerous possible factors in a person’s life that can ultimately lead to substance abuse. Mental, physical, and emotional problems combined with other life circumstances are all contributing factors to developing a substance abuse or addiction problem. More than anything, the thing that appeals most to people with these types of pre-existing issues is the euphoric sense of escapism they’re able to temporarily achieve. These types of issues are typically ingrained within a person’s psyche and can manifest themselves in different ways. People who suffered any form of physical or emotional abuse at the hands of a trusted friend or family member, people with underdeveloped social skills, people who suffer from mental health issues, and so on can all eventually come to rely on various chemical substances to cope with their perceived inadequacies or escape reality. In a lot of cases, people are introduced to these chemical substances during adolescence and succumb to immense peer pressure to participate in this type of destructive behaviour. Once a habit it formed, it can be extremely difficult to get over.

Long-Term Effects of Substance Abuse

Continued substance abuse becomes habitual and translates into a normative part of a person’s adult life to the extent where they’re unable to function without being on something. Unfortunately the euphoric and soothing sensation only lasts a short period of time until the person is hankering for another fix of their preferred substance. In the meantime, their powerful cravings can become so difficult to deal with that they change the person’s physical and emotional disposition. The person usually becomes more easily irritable, they might start to shirk their regular responsibilities in search of more drugs or alcohol, and in the worst-case scenarios, they might begin to alienate themselves from friends and family. All in all, prolonged substance abuse can send a person on a downward spiral of despair with a lifetime of pain.

The Importance of Developing a Strong Substance Abuse Treatment Plan

If you’re suffering from a substance abuse problem and are ready to seek the right assistance, or even if you suspect that a loved one might be harbouring a substance abuse problem, then the best thing you can do is to seek out a practical substance abuse treatment plan to help kick the habit. This includes speaking with the appropriate healthcare professionals such as your family physician, substance abuse counsellors in your area, and even psychotherapists. The first and most crucial step is to have an open and earnest discussion with the person suffering from a substance abuse problem and provide them with a comfortable platform to help them confront their problem.

Freedom From Addiction, Inc. prides itself on being one of the only privately run addiction and substance abuse treatment centers in Toronto, Ontario that is accredited by Accreditation Canada. All of our staff members are fully licensed professionals in their respective fields, which is why we can confidently guarantee that you or your loved one with a substance abuse problem will receive the highest quality treatment possible. We’ll take the time to carefully evaluate and understand your specific situation and work with your family and loved ones to tailor an appropriate treatment plan that works for you. Contact us today to learn more about our addictions and substance abuse counselling programs.