National Addictions Awareness Week is underway. The theme this year is “Forging Connections.”
The Leeds Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit says the most common addictive substances found in our listening area includes alcohol, nicotine (smoking, vaping), cannabis, opioids, and other street drugs.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Linna Li says there are many reasons people abuse substances.
For many substances, it’s not the addiction itself that is a problem or an illness, it’s that the other health problems they create, like the risk of lung & heart disease and cancer with smoking.
Another example is coffee, which is addictive, but not considered a health problem because the health harms of caffeine (though they do exist) are not widespread.
The health unit provide help with prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and enforcement or reducing the presence of unregulated substances in our communities. They do through partnerships with a number of services and organizations.
Outreach Public Health Nurse Allison Powers says there are some areas of great importance when working with clients who abuse substances.
She says they have to help each client with their specific needs.
For more information you can visit the Drug Use & Harm Reduction page at www.healthunit.org, or call 1-800-660-5853. You can also connect with @LGLHealthunit on social media.
Listen to the complete interview below.