I just spent two days in Ottawa at the National Summit on Recovery hosted by the CCSA.
I know many of you won’t get wildly excited about this but it was actually historic.Those of you who have dealt with addiction or know someone who has read on.
This was the first time that Canada has addressed this issue and we came out of this with a clear focus on what recovery was, how to achieve that and most importantly with a real focus on the importance of escalating the public discussion about recovery. Congratulations to the organizers and to the 50 participants from across the country who worked very well together to listen, learn and collaborate to come up with the document below.
It was interesting that today was also “Let’s Talk” day about mental health. The increased focus on de-stigmatising mental health issue gives us an opportunity to build on that type of platform to help the process of doing the same with the disease of addiction.
Just to clarify here is the definition of addiction:
Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors. Addiction is characterized by inability to consistently abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response.
Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death.
As well, if you were wondering what recovery is here is the definition of that:
Recovery A process of sustained action that addresses the biological, psychological, social and spiritual disturbances inherent in addiction.
Recovery aims to improve the quality of life by seeking balance and healing in all aspects of health and wellness, while addressing an individual’s consistent pursuit of abstinence, impairment in behavioral control, dealing with cravings, recognizing problems in one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and dealing more effectively with emotional responses. An individual’s recovery actions lead to reversal of negative, self-defeating internal processes and behaviors, allowing healing of relationships with self and others. The concepts of acceptance and surrender are also useful in this process. Since some prescribed and non-prescribed medications can interfere with recovery, it would be prudent to consult with an Addiction Specialist Physician in selected cases.
and for further hope
Remission A state of wellness where there is an abatement of signs and symptoms that characterize active addiction. Many individuals in a state remission state remain actively engaged in the process of recovery. Reduction in signs or symptoms constitutes improvement in a disease state, but remission involves a return to a level of functioning that is free of active symptoms and/or is marked by stability in the chronic signs and symptoms that characterize active addiction.
Please take a look at the following link. Share at will.
