Tag Archives: Binge Drinking in Alberta

Opiate Addiction And Opiate Abuse :: Drug Rehabs In Alberta And BC :: Options Okanagan Treatment Centers

Opiate addiction and opiate abuse rehab programs and aftercare programs in Alberta and British Columbia – Options Okanagan Alcohol and Drug Treatment Centers in Kelowna and Salmon Arm (Shuswap), British Columbia treating drug, opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

Opiate & Drug Rehabs in Alberta & BC

Individuals take opiates for a wide range of reasons, but often it’s to block out the pain associated with everyday life. By numbing their pain, people no longer have to feel it, so they avoid facing the underlying causes. Eventually, opiate use can turn into abuse followed by a full-blown opiate addiction. Many people use the terms “opiate addiction” and “opiate abuse” interchangeably, but there is a difference between them.

Opiate abuse is the inappropriate use of legally prescribed opiate medications or the use of illegal acquired opiates. Those who abuse opiates are using them to get a “high” feeling that they can’t obtain from other substances. Opiate abuse is also often recreational with people taking them to unwind and feel more comfortable in some social situations.

People Addicted to Social Media in Fort McMurray, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, Leftbridge, Camrose, Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta

Opiate Addiction and Recovery Programs in Alberta and BC

Opiate addiction, in contrast, is an uncontrollable physical and psychological dependency on opiates. An addict is unable to stop taking opiates in spite of social and health consequences. Those suffering from opiate addiction are emotionally and physically unable to quite using opiates. Their bodies have developed a physical dependence on the drugs and when addicts stop taking them, they experience painful psychological and physical symptoms.

Opiate addiction starts with opiate abuse when a person makes a conscious decision to use opiates, however, addiction is not simply the consumption of large doses of the drug. According to recent scientific research, there is overwhelming evidence that in addition to interfering with normal cognitive functions and activating the brain’s pleasure centers, opiates also have long-term impacts on brain metabolism and activity.

Families Living with Drug addiction and Alcohol Addiction - Aftercare and Continuing Care in Fort McMurray, Camrose, Leftbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta

At a certain point, the change that occurs to the brain can turn opiate abuse into a chronic, debilitating addiction. People addicted to opiates have compulsive cravings for the drug and they cannot limit usage or quit without outside help. Professional treatment is usually necessary to disrupt the compulsive behavior and cure opiate addiction.

PTSD and Alcohol Addiction in Alberta and BC

A lot of people wrongly view opiate abuse and addiction as a social problem only. Parents, teens and other members of the community often characterize those who use opiates as morally weak or criminals. They believe opiate addicts would be able to stop using opiates if they wanted to change their behavior, but that is simply not true.

Opiate Addiction in Alberta and BC

Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Alberta and BC

People from all parts of society abuse opiates and develop addictions. We can begin to battle the problems by educating ourselves and others about the truth behind opiate abuse and addiction. The abuse of opiates is a growing epidemic, but it doesn’t have to grab hold of individuals or society. Opiate abuse and opiate addictions can be prevented and cured, but only if we begin with education.

Opiate Rehab in Alberta and BC

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Social Media Addiction in Kelowna, BC

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Our (Kelowna ) Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program Location:
(Not Mailing Address) Contact Us – Web Page
For Mail Delivery :: Please contact each center for correct mailing addresses, also this location is the location of our residential treatment programs in Kelowna. Please call Toll Free 1-855-335-0331 to contact the treatment center you are going to for the address and directions.

Options Okanagan Alcohol and Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331

Social Media Addiction Linked To Alcohol and Opiate Abuse :: Alcohol and Drug Rehabs In Alberta And BC :: Options Okanagan Treatment Centers

Social media addiction linked with alcohol and drug abuse – Aftercare Programs and continuing care programs in Alberta and British Columbia – Options Okanagan Alcohol and Drug Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating drug, opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

Alcohol & Drug Rehabs in Alberta & BC

Social Media Linked With Addictions

Anyone can be addicted to social media. As weird as it may sound, some people cannot do without social media. Many won’t even stay for more than 5 minutes without checking for followers and status updates on various social networking platforms. If you spend more than 60% of your time on social media and feel phantom vibrations when not close to your phone, chances are you are an addict. Although you might not be fully addicted to social media, displaying behaviors of an addict makes you vulnerable to substance abuse as well.

15% Of All Social Media Users Display Addictive Behaviors

Studies show that a good number of social media users show similar behavior to that displayed by substance abusers. A study conducted at one of the leading Universities in Canada on undergraduate students shows that around 15% of these students display certain behaviors common with addicts, even when using social media. The survey also included modeled questions aimed at determining dependence on alcohol. Students exhibiting signs of substance addiction scored very high on internet addiction as well. This is to say, some of the social media users are more likely to struggle with substance abuse and emotional regulation.

Opiate Addiction and Recovery Programs in Alberta and BC

People Addicted to Social Media in Fort McMurray, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, Leftbridge, Camrose, Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta

Social Media as an Addictive Reward

Many people use or see social media as a form of reward. The same applies to alcohol and drug users. Their quest to get the said ‘reward’ puts them deeper into addiction. How do you feel when you get/hear a social notification on your phone. Many people feel an unexplained excitement or pleasure and cannot wait a minute longer to see what it is. The notifications can be from someone having commented or liked your Facebook status, or someone just followed you on Twitter. The brain sees this as a form of reward, hence will keep wanting more. Sounds similar to drug or alcohol addiction.

Social media dependence is a form of addiction that puts one out of control or becomes compulsive. Numerous studies have been launched to determine why many people see social media as a form of reward. What makes the status updates, comments, and likes a much stronger or pleasant reward as compared to other activities. According to research, the act of sharing information about what you do, yourself, and anything else is instinctively rewarding. Such acts engage parts of the brain responsible for appreciating a reward, which again increases the risk of addiction.

Families Living with Drug addiction and Alcohol Addiction - Aftercare and Continuing Care in Fort McMurray, Camrose, Leftbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta

Opiate Rehab in Alberta and BC

How Social Media Is Linked To Alcohol And Drug Abuse

There’s no reason to be alarmed simply because you use social media every day. Using social media doesn’t make you vulnerable to alcohol and substance abuse. If you, however, cannot do anything without checking the social media, chances are you are susceptible to substance abuse. Several researchers believe social media addiction is one of the risk factors of substance use and addiction. Those addicted to social media show signs of regulating emotions, impulsive behaviors, etc.

Many of the individuals addicted to social media displayed behaviors such as the urge and craving to check comments and statuses, increased irritability, and spending tons of time on social media. Most of these individuals even struggle to log off from the social sites, and would rather postpone an urgent assignment just to check statuses or chat. Such impulsive behavior raises a red flag for increased risk of drug and alcohol addiction.

Opiate Addiction in Alberta and BC

Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Alberta and BC

If you consider yourself addicted to social media, limiting the amount of time you spend on the same might help. A good way to do this is by turning notifications off on your phone and setting a limit on social media use. You will be surprised at how much you can achieve from merely staying away from social media.

PTSD and Alcohol Addiction in Alberta and BC

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Social Media Addiction in Kelowna, BC

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Our (Kelowna ) Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program Location:
(Not Mailing Address) Contact Us – Web Page
For Mail Delivery :: Please contact each center for correct mailing addresses, also this location is the location of our residential treatment programs in Kelowna. Please call Toll Free 1-855-335-0331 to contact the treatment center you are going to for the address and directions.

Options Okanagan Alcohol and Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331

Give Alcohol To A Child, Binge Drinkers As Adults :: Alcohol Rehabilitation Clinics In Alberta And BC :: Options Okanagan Treatment Centers

A recent study indicated that by allowing children to drink a little alcohol at home, they will start binge drinking as adults. Alcohol Rehabs and Aftercare in Alberta and British Columbia – Options Okanagan Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm (Shuswap), British Columbia treating drug, opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

Alcohol Rehab Center in Alberta and BC

A Case Study: Alcohol As Children, Binge Drinkers As Adults

A recent study on alcohol and drugs that was published by a leading news magazine found that children who are allowed to try out a little bit of alcohol at home are a lot more likely to begin to binge drink when they are older. Those studies have been done by centers for addiction and alcohol abuse at leading Canadian and United States universities to help solve some of the growing addiction problems in society.

It was discovered by the researchers that kids that tried alcohol by the fifth or sixth grade are about six times more likely to have a full drink by the ninth grade. Also, they were five times more likely to get drunk or binge drink. Some of the conclusions of one of these addiction studies came after they surveyed over 600 middle school students during a three year period.

Families Living with alcoholic children - Alcohol Addiction, Aftercare and Continuing Care in Fort McMurray, Camrose, Leftbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta


Alcoholic children - Alcohol Addiction in Fort McMurray, Camrose, Leftbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta


What Is Binge Drinking?

The institutes of alcoholism and alcohol abuse report that binge drinking is a drinking pattern that brings an individual’s blood alcohol content up to 0.08 grams percent or higher. That occurs when a female consumes four drinks or more and a male has five drinks or more during one session that lasts for about two hours. It is frequently equated to three pints of potent beer for men and two big glasses of wine for women.

Teenager Addiction in Alberta and BC

Over the years the practice of binge drinking has been increasing in popularity. it is estimated by the centers for disease control and prevention that 1 in 6 adults in the U.S. and Canada bring drink about four times per month and have eight drinks per each binge, and more than half of alcohol consumed by adults and 80 percent by individuals under the legal drinking is binge drinking.

People Living with Binge Drinkers - Alcohol Addiction and Rehab in Fort McMurray, Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta

Binge Drinking’s Negative Effects

Although binge drinking is very popular it can also cause serious damage. Some negative effects that may result from drinking to fast and too much include:

  • Unintentional injuries like drowning, falls, and car crashes
  • Intentional injuries like domestic violence, sexual assault, and firearm injuries
  • Risky sexual behaviors like sexually transmitted diseases
  • Alcohol poisoning
  • Unintended pregnancy
  • Stroke, high blood pressures, and other types of cardiovascular diseases
  • Children who are born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
  • Poor diabetes control
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Neurological damage
  • Liver disease

Drug & Alcohol Rehab Treatment in Alberta and BC

A common misconception that many people have is that alcohol is consumed by binge drinkers on a daily basis. However, that is not true. Experts report that the characteristics that describe binge drinkers are they tend to drink quickly, drink more on a regular basis than lower-risk guidelines in one session, or drinking with the intention of getting drunk sometimes.

Alcohol Addiction Rehabs in Alberta and BC

Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Alberta and BC

Although some individuals might think that allowing their children to taste alcohol may prepare them for peer pressure in the future or help them make better choices later on about alcohol, might need up doing a lot more harm compared to good. As an addiction and alcohol counselor would say it is recommended not to give a sip of your alcoholic beverage to your child since it might send the wrong message. Children and younger teen might not understand the difference between drinking on drink or more and having a few sips.

Alcohol Interventions and Treatment in Alberta and BC

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Alcohol Addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Kelowna

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Our (Kelowna ) Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program Location:
(Not Mailing Address) Contact Us – Web Page
For Mail Delivery :: Please contact each center for correct mailing addresses, also this location is the location of our residential treatment programs in Kelowna. Please call Toll Free 1-855-335-0331 to contact the treatment center you are going to for the address and directions.

Options Okanagan Alcohol and Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331

Binge Drinking Is Being Fueled By Social Media :: Alcohol Rehabs In Alberta And BC :: Options Okanagan Treatment Centers

Binge drinking is being fueled by Social Media – Aftercare and continuing care in Alberta and British Columbia – Options Okanagan Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, British Columbia treating drug, opiate and alcohol addiction and recovery.

Alcohol Rehabs in Alberta and BC

Social Media and Binge Drinking

Although social media has skyrocketed in popularity to allow distant and old friends and family members to share and reconnect, these websites also have drawbacks to them, such as online affairs and cyberbullying. Binge drinking games are another way that social media is misused, and can be a deadly one as well.

People Binge Drinking in Fort McMurray, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, Leftbridge, Camrose, Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta

Neknominate – Binge Drinking Game

A few years ago there was one youthful social media fad that was making headlines. It was a drinking game believed to have started with Australian college students. This game is called neknominate. It involves participants of the game to film themselves downing some kind of drink, usually a huge alcoholic drink. Then the person posts their movie on social media and challenges one of their friends to outdo them and post a video in 24 hours or less.

The game continues with one individual challenging another one to perform an outrageous drinking stunt. News outlets in previous years reported on young men dying playing these stupid and dangerous binge drinking games. Thousands of young people all over the world have played the game and made videos of their stunts have gone viral, which encourages vulnerable young adults, even those who are not challenged specifically, to encourage them to do dangerous actions that are similar to those that came before them.

People Living with Drug and Alcohol Addiction - Aftercare and Continuing Care in Fort McMurray, Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta

Drug & Alcohol Rehab Treatment in Alberta and BC

Drinking and Social Perception

The neknominate game is a very extreme example of how young people can be influenced to drink by social media, especially binge drinking. Also, there are much more subtle ways that social media contributes to the increase in binge drinking. This has to do with how social norms are perceived. All people, but in particular teens, are hard-wired for fitting and following the norms of their peer group. In ways that are more innocent, it helps teenagers get along well with others and make friends, like following the music and fashion trends.

This phenomenon also works in ways that are more insidious. One of the major drivers of underage drinking is the perceived social norms regarding drinking or the belief that everybody is doing it. Social media websites help to increase the perception of numerous things, including excessive drinking by young people. Whenever teenagers are inundated with status updates, videos, tweets, and images about drinking, they start believing that everybody is drinking and that this is acceptable behavior if what is being represented is an exaggeration. The perception makes it more likely that the teens will engage in binge drinking.

Families Living with Drug addiction and Alcohol Addiction - Aftercare and Continuing Care in Fort McMurray, Camrose, Leftbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta

PTSD and Alcohol Addiction in Alberta and BC

Studying Binge Drinking and Social Media

Given the fact that social media is a fairly new phenomenon, there is only minimal research that has has been conducted on its effects. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) have started researching how binge drinking is affected by social media to get a clear idea of how large the problem actually is and how it can be prevented. The act that the NIH and CIHR are prepared to invest in funding on research means experts believe social media is playing an important role in the increase of binge drinking. The research will dig up the details and confirm this and could help to change the current pattern of binge and underage drinking.

Opiate Rehab in Alberta and BC

Social media has a lot to account for when it comes to young people’s drinking behaviors. It might be people posting about their stunts and drinking, but the social media platform is what sends the message all over the world. The continuous appearance of videos, images, and messages about drinking on the various social media channels adds to the concept that drinking, and particularly drinking hard, is a cool thing. That must change before more people become injured, sick, or even killed due to excess drinking.

Opiate Addiction in Alberta and BC

Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Alberta and BC

Opiate Addiction and Recovery Programs in Alberta and BC

Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.

Individuals Living with Opiate Addiction and Addiction Aftercare and Continuing Care in Kelowna

Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.

Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, heroin drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.

Our (Kelowna ) Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program Location:
(Not Mailing Address) Contact Us – Web Page
For Mail Delivery :: Please contact each center for correct mailing addresses, also this location is the location of our residential treatment programs in Kelowna. Please call Toll Free 1-855-335-0331 to contact the treatment center you are going to for the address and directions.

Options Okanagan Alcohol and Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331