I used to feel like I was born to be an addict. My biological mother drank and took heroine while she was pregnant with my twin brother and me. And addiction runs deep in my biological family. My parents, who adopted me when I was born, told me I would be more susceptible to addiction… Read more »
For many years now, Portage has made art workshops available to the residents of its rehabilitation centres. The workshops promote creative freedom in a non-judgmental environment. I recently met with Catherine, who teaches art at the MICA Centre, to discuss their impact. A pause in the therapeutic process Portage’s Mentally Ill Chemical Abusers (MICA) program… Read more »
Edible cannabis products (such as candies and cookies) will be authorized for sale starting in October. This “second wave” of cannabis legalization raises concerns surrounding the appeal and dangers of edible cannabis products. Cases of cannabis intoxication in children On May 17, 2019, the Montreal Children’s Hospital sounded the alarm concerning edible cannabis products…. Read more »
In an interview with the TVA Nouvelles news channel on Wednesday, April 3, 2019, fourteen-year old Elizabeth explained how she became addicted to nicotine through vaping, at one point consuming the equivalent of 100 cigarettes per day. E-cigarettes are becoming increasingly popular, especially among youth. The fault lies with some very clever marketing. An alternative… Read more »
The Portage drug rehabilitation centre in Cassidy Lake, New-Brunswick has been adapting its services to the needs of transgender youth since 2016. Discrimination and social exclusion often lead transgender youth to isolate themselves from others and develop drug and/or alcohol use problems. With this is mind, Portage has implemented structural changes aimed at providing a… Read more »
More than 2,000 deaths by overdose between January and July 2018 in Canada; 72,000 deaths by overdose in 2017 alone in the United States (more than the combined number of deaths due to motor vehicle accidents and guns): such is the toll of the opioid crisis in North America. Many people who fall prey to… Read more »
We interviewed Kathie Rodger, Director of the Portage Atlantic Centre for adolescents, to learn about her professional career and her role in our organization. Q: Hi Kathie, can you tell us how you started your career? Sure! I didn’t really know what I wanted to do when I was younger. After fantasizing about becoming a… Read more »
Have women fallen into the insidious trap of alcohol and drug use? Recent studies on the prevalence of alcohol and drug use among women worldwide tend to show an increase in their consumption of both. Social pressure, post-traumatic stress – the reasons for the increase seem to be on the rise as women are caught… Read more »
A new study conducted by the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) and Oxford University has linked cannabis use in adolescents to an increased risk of depression. In 2017, a study by the Institut en santé mentale de Montréal had already shown a link between cannabis use and violent behaviour. The risks… Read more »
There are many benefits to volunteering whether it is motivated by societal needs or more personal reasons. While giving of one’s time, knowledge and skills certainly benefits the recipient, it can also be very rewarding for the person doing the giving. Below is a list of reasons for becoming a volunteer. If you would like… Read more »
