The Science Behind Addiction 

All opioids possess a high addiction potential. Many factors can play a role in addiction, but it is impossible to say who will develop an opioid dependence.

 

Rav Khakh, a licensed nurse at ACT Medical, an opioid addiction clinic in Calgary, says that anyone can fall victim to addiction.

 

For some, addiction begins as a result of a prescription given to them by their doctor. Rav says that many of the patients she treats were prescribed opioids as a result of a surgery and that the withdrawals were so severe they had a difficult time stopping.

 

She says often the  people who become addicted are the ones who are not taking their medication as prescribed.

 

“[When] we are not following the guidelines of weaning off our dose, that is when we become dependent,” she says, “It's not like anybody would want to be addicted to opioids, it's just that their body does not know how to function without taking it. No one goes into this thing with a choice.”

 

The use of opioids can affect the body in many ways when using it. Rav says that is can slow down the system physically and mentally, and that it stops the user from thinking the same way that they used to, stunting their quality of life.

 

“If you are on a high from the opioids your body is masking all of the problems that you have because you are controlling the pain with the opioids. So even if you have some problem you are masking it because you are already taking something to stop the pain.”

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CHRONIC BRAIN DISORDER

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Stacey Petersen, executive director of Fresh Start Recovery Centre, says that the part of the brain that addiction affects first is the part that controls executive functioning. This causes those struggling with addiction to, “do and say things that they otherwise wouldn’t.”

 

He says that after getting sober, the individual then realizes what they’ve done and who they may have hurt as a result of their addiction. This can cause an incredible amount of shame and guilt.

 

“That’s why we say that the hardest things for us to do is to get someone to forgive themselves, because until they do they will always feel like they need to get punished.”

 

Addiction is a chronic brain disorder, and that those struggling with addiction have little to no control over it, says Stacey.

 

“Sometimes people have a hard time with that, because they think when you lay it out that way it takes responsibility away from the individual. And it’s the exact opposite,” he says. “If you were a diabetic, I [would say] ‘now you are responsible for your maintenance, your blood sugars, your diet, you’re 100 per cent responsible.’ You may have not been responsible for getting it, but now that you do know, you’re responsible.”

 

He says that “self determination” means everything in the recovery process and that with the help of their peers, those struggling with addiction don’t have to face recovery alone.

 

HARM REDUCTION

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Stacey says that harm reduction and abstinence-based programs like Fresh Start need to build a bridge to one and other. He says that abstinence is always the long term goal, however harm reduction is an important measure to take in order to make sure that someone going through a relapse doesn’t die.

 

“At the end of the day we can’t treat someone if they’re not with us anymore, so we all want the same things. We want people to survive and thrive and do better.”

 

Some harm reduction measures include:

 

• Supervised consumption sites, where opioid users can consume their drugs with staff on hand ready to respond if an overdose does occur.

• The “Good Samaritan Law” which provides legal protection to anyone either under the influence of or in possession of illegal drugs when calling 911 on a suspected overdose.

• The distribution of naloxone kits, free without a prescription. Naloxone is a life saving drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose.

 

In response to the opioid epidemic, naloxone has recently become an “unscheduled” drug, meaning that it is available without a prescription. The kits are available through Alberta Health Services and are free to anyone, regardless of their overdose potential.

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WHAT ELSE IS ALBERTA DOING?​

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Alongside Alberta's harm reduction initiatives, the Ministers Emergency Opioid Response Commission is working towards finding effective solutions towards treatment and prevention, enforcement and supply control, and surveillance and analytics.

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Collaboration between key groups is essential to the governments current response efforts. These key groups include medical professionals, law enforcement, advocacy groups, and people who suffer from addiction themselves.

 

By taking into consideration the different experiences and expertise that these groups provide, the government hopes to begin making the changes necessary to combat this crisis.

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In addition to the initiatives of the Ministers Emergency Opioid Response Commission, Alberta has also agreed to provide $1.4 million in grants to community organizations. The main purpose of these grants is to inform the public about addiction and harm reduction, and to reduce stigma all together. 

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