True or False?
1. It’s hard to get addicted to meth.
False. Just as how people can build tolerance for alcohol, the same goes for methamphetamines. Eventually this tolerance can lead to addiction because the more a person takes a drug, they can begin to crave its desired effects more and will have to take more of it in order to achieve these effects. Addiction depends on a variety of factors, like amount of use and a person’s current mental state.
2. It’s not that dangerous.
False. Any drug is dangerous. Oftentimes, the purity of methamphetamine is unknown, so negative effects can occur and potentially result in overdose. Depending on how the drug is taken, such as through the veins, it can be much more dangerous because if the needle isn’t clean, a person is more susceptible to infections, HIV, and hepatitis. It is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, children, teens, and any one with pre-existing autoimmune and cardiovascular disorders.
3. Support groups don’t help a person overcome their addiction to meth.
False. Being surrounded with individuals who are in a similar situation can help to decrease feelings of judgement and loneliness. Instead, a person can be more motivated to seek help and maintain self-help techniques.
Usually, it’s much better to tackle issues as a group rather than doing it all by yourself. The stigma around getting help, whether if it’s through support groups or individual sessions, needs to stop!
NA is present within 144 countries and is known for its supportive groups for people suffering from drug addiction. https://www.orscna.org/home
4. Meth addiction has been steadily rising for the past 5 years in Canada.
True. According to the Canadian Drug Summary for Methamphetamine Addiction, they stated that there is a:
“590% increase in possession incidents between 2010 and 2017 … Several jurisdictions report at least a three-fold increase in the use of methamphetamine over the past five years among individuals accessing treatment or harm reduction services.“
https://www.ccsa.ca/sites/default/files/2019-04/CCSA-Canadian-Drug-Summary-Methamphetamine-2018-en.pdf
This is an unfortunate reality for Canada. To try and combat this staggering number, education and awareness programs that better target high school, university and college students, and even adults must be considered.
A notable organization, the Guelph-Wellington Drug Strategy (GWDS), is implementing a 4-pillar drug strategy (prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery, and community safety) to reduce drug use and offer resources to those suffering from it in the Guelph-Wellington region.
If you live in this region and want to learn more about GWDS and the resources they provide, please go to this link.