Overcoming addiction is extremely difficult for anyone caught in its trap, whether it's for cannabis or any other substance. Yet, in most cases, the same pattern can be observed. There are many ways to break free from addiction and they all share the same goal: helping people return to a happy, productive life.
The addiction cycle and how to break it
Addiction to something, whether it be to cigarettes, alcohol, other drugs, or to certain behaviours (shopping, gambling, pornography, etc.), is hardly ever experienced as something pleasurable by a person who suffers from addiction, but rather, as a form of enslavement. Consuming substances, or chronically repeating a behaviour, is no longer a choice that can be controlled through willpower.
As soon as a person has entered into an addiction cycle, they feel incapable of breaking free, without really knowing why.
From Pot Smoker to Lamplighter
I was fourteen when I smoked my first joint. I lived in an outlying region and it was our way of having fun among friends on the weekend. During the week, I studied hard, I got good grades, I was into sports and I had a good social life.
Five years later, I decided to pack up and head to Montreal. I did all sorts of small jobs, and though I had few opportunities to play sports, I had more and more opportunities to smoke pot. At the time, I thought pot helped me relax and it quickly became a daily routine. And, of course, the people I hung out with with were regular smokers too.
Seven Ways to Start Talking About Drugs With a Teenager
It’s not easy for parents to start a conversation about drugs with their children. But youths become vulnerable targets as soon as they set foot in school, where they quickly meet people who use drugs. That’s why parents must take the time to discuss this matter with their children.
Sure, drug use is sometimes a taboo and difficult subject, but keep in mind that your child has probably already been in contact with people who use drugs, to varying degrees of severity.
Portage Blog
Self-Medication: When Young People Try to Alleviate their Suffering
Could substance use be hiding an attempt to survive? Adolescence and the transition to adulthood are often synonymous with instability and challenges. For many adolescents, hormonal changes, a desire for autonomy and the will to define oneself are intertwined with mental health issues. An increasing number of youth struggle with anxiety, depression or ADHD. Self-medication… Read more »
Social Media and Illicit Drug Sales: One Click Away From Addiction (continued)
Insights from youth and counsellors In January of this year, we published an article uncovering an unsettling truth: social media has become the main gateway to substance use among youth. The problem has continued to grow since then and Portage has continued to delve further into the subject. This fall, we launched a series… Read more »
Concurrent Disorders: Better Support Through Better Understanding
Concurrent disorders are among the most challenging issues in our health care system. Individuals who have both significant mental health problems and substance use disorders are often caught up in a maze of disjointed services that can, paradoxically, make things worse rather than better. What is a concurrent disorder? A concurrent disorder is when… Read more »
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