Psychotic episodes can occur for a variety of reasons, not all of them having to do with mental illness
Hallucinations and delusions are the first things many people imagine when they hear about mental illness. They think of people who hear voices, see imaginary people or think they are someone they’re not. While hallucinations and delusions are not the hallmark of every mental illness, they can occur as a symptom of several disorders. Schizophrenia…
A much greater emphasis needs to be put on dual placements – whenever possible, mothers and children should be placed together
Girls who spend time in the care of child protection services have higher rates of teenage pregnancy and teenage mothers are more likely to have their child taken into care. Teenage mothers who give birth when they’re in care are also more likely to have their children taken into care. Until recently, we didn’t know…
By thinking twice before prescribing and talking with patients about the risks of medications, clinicians are tackling overuse
By Karen Born and Wendy Levinson University of Toronto Canadians are living longer than ever and we are also taking more medications than ever. And this can make us sicker, not healthier. A report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information found that one in four seniors in Canada take 10 or more medications. That’s…
Worldwide, it is estimated that between 14 and 20 million people use cocaine. Cocaine addiction is one of the most difficult to treat chronically relapsing disorders. Whilst the effects of this drug on behaviour have been studied since the 19th century, it was only in recent decades that scientists realized cocaine impacts and changes brain…
The answer to addiction will not be found in the industries of incarceration and prescription
On Oct. 21, pharmaceutical opioid distributors McKesson Corp., AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health, and drug manufacturer Teva Pharmaceuticals agreed to a US$260-million settlement just hours before opening arguments were scheduled to begin in the first opioid-era federal lawsuit in Ohio. This is the first of hundreds of similar lawsuits filed by cities, counties, Native American tribes…
Limiting access to alcohol led to chaos during the Prohibition. Will constraining opioids do the same?
There are so many reasons to be very glad that we live in Canada – one of the main is that we’re governed by the rule of law. Laws and the rules and regulations that underpin them are enacted by democratically-elected governments. They’re enforced and upheld by police and courts that are amazingly upright and…
An estimated 13% of Canadian workers who are cannabis users consumed the drug before or during work: StatsCan
Data released Thursday by Statistics Canada indicates just why the cannabis industry has become such a big part of the Canadian economy in recent months. The federal agency reported that about 5.3 million or 18 per cent of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported using cannabis in the last three months. This was higher…
Abstinence-based treatment is ineffective. We need to invest heavily in harm reduction strategies
By Sen. Jane Cordy and Sen. Raymonde Gagné “I wasn’t born to be a drug addict,” said a brave member of the audience at our recent open caucus meeting in the Senate on the Opioid Crisis in Canada. He told us of his struggle with drug addiction over two decades. His closing words hung in…
The delays, mistakes and outright incompetence related to cannabis legalization suggest we won't be able to manage opioid use
Ever since the oft-delayed rollout of legal recreational cannabis sales in Canada on Oct. 17, there have been problems across this vast and highly regulated land. All of these problems mean the illegal cannabis market remains intact. They also suggest we won't be particularly adept at handling legitimate drug crisis in this country. The cannabis-related…
A mother and a dentist team call for an end to routine opioid use for teens after wisdom tooth removal
By Amy Ma and Susan Sutherland Contributors We’re writing as a parent and a dentist to spread a message to parents and dental health-care providers across Canada: there are alternatives to prescribing opioids after wisdom teeth removal. Removing wisdom teeth is considered by many as a rite of passage for teenagers. It’s one of the…
Hallucinations and delusions are the first things many people imagine when they hear about mental illness. They think of people who hear voices, see imaginary people or think they are someone they’re not. While hallucinations and delusions are not the hallmark of every mental illness, they can occur as a symptom of several disorders. Schizophrenia…
