Addiction

Addiction in BC

The declaration on March 17, 2020 of a public health emergency related to COVID-19 means that British Columbia is now facing two concurrent crises: one, the rapidly escalating spread of the coronavirus and another, addiction in BC and the ongoing opioid overdose crisis.

4,700 have lost their lives from overdoses caused by addiction in BC since 2016.
In a year, one in five Canadians will experience a mental health or substance use issue.
An estimated 68,000 youth between the ages of 15 and 24 meet the criteria for a substance use disorder.
Close to 8 million Canadians struggle with addiction

Almost half of Canadians report that they have used an illicit drug at some point in their lifetime, with cannabis being the most used illicit drug, followed by hallucinogens, cocaine/crack, and ecstasy.

Facts about Addiction

In 2016, it was declared that the overdose crisis was a public health emergency in BC. This country is currently experiencing an opioid epidemic, which has seen increases in hospitalizations and deaths due to heroin, fentanyl, and other opioids.

Since then, more than 4,700 people have lost their lives to overdose in BC with more than 1,200 of these deaths happening in the greater Vancouver area. The crisis of addiction in BC is only getting worse and we need to help.

As of 2019, around 24 percent of Canadians stated they felt the opioid issue in Canada was a crisis, while 46 percent believed it to be a serious problem.

Overdose Awareness

If you are worried that someone who may be experiencing an overdose, it is important that you don’t leave them alone. If the person is still conscious, try and keep them awake and monitor their breathing. Here are the signs to look out for during an overdose:

Loss of consciousness
Unresponsive to outside stimulus
Awake, but unable to talk
Breathing is very slow and shallow, erratic, or has stopped
For lighter skinned people, the skin tone turns bluish purple, for darker skinned people, it turns grayish or ashen.
Choking sounds, or a snore-like gurgling noise (sometimes called the “death rattle”)
Vomiting
Body is very limp
Face is very pale or clammy
Fingernails and lips turn blue or purplish black
Pulse (heartbeat) is slow, erratic, or not there at all

John Volken Academy

The John Volken Academy Program provides effective, long-term, residential addiction treatment for young men and women. This program works. It not only helps participants to get sober, but more importantly, it teaches them the necessary attributes to stay sober.

Together We Can

Together We Can recognizes that addiction is a chronic, progressive disease and that abstinence is only the beginning of the recovery process. Men participating in our program must develop an awareness of how their thoughts and beliefs block them from wellness and inner peace. It is imperative that each man take personal responsibility for making positive and healthy new choices for themselves.

Wagner Hills

Wagner Hills Farm Society provides rehabilitation ministry to men and women with addiction.

Addiction is seen as a symptom of a broken life, as a condition that can be healed through individual inner growth and through transformation to a life that is lived in line with Christian principles and beliefs.

Healing, growth and transformation require time, individual commitment, and a tranquil environment. The two working farms provide a place of beauty, peace and safety for men and women to recover, to heal and to find hope and purpose for their lives.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Al-Anon