Recent Articles:

Below are past articles previously published in Drugs & Addiction Magazine. These are filled with current and relevant information and statistics and can be used as great conversation starters with youth.

Know Your DNA – How DNA Testing can help Predict Addiction

May 10, 2020

A “gold standard” study finds deleting Facebook is great for your mental health

January 31, 2019

It’s Bell Let’s Talk Day!

January 30, 2019

FDA’s opioids adviser accuses agency of having ‘direct’ link to crisis

January 25, 2019

New York Passes a Ban on ‘Conversion Therapy’ After Years-Long Efforts

January 22, 2019

Former Insys CEO pleads guilty to opioid kickback scheme

January 17, 2019

Resolve to Detox Your Social Circle

January 16, 2019

Easing test anxiety boosts low-income students’ biology grades

January 15, 2019

Craving insight into addiction

January 14, 2019

New book looks at the heart of Edmonton’s opioid epidemic through stories and art

January 11, 2019

People with low self-esteem tend to seek support in ways that backfire, study finds

January 10, 2019

Ban on cigarette sales in NYC pharmacies starts Jan. 1

January 9, 2019

Too many problems? Maybe coping isn’t the answer

January 8, 2019

Muslim youth group cleans up national parks amid government shutdown

January 7, 2019

For-profit college cancels $500M in student debt after fraud allegations

January 4, 2019

Half of all mental illness begins by the age of 14

January 3, 2019

Sexting Teens

December 19, 2018

Screen Addiction: Today’s Biggest Threat to Schooling?

December 19, 2018

Texting Etiquette & Safety: 5 Rules for Keeping Your Kids & Teens Secure & Drama-Free

December 17, 2018

Amnesty International: Indigenous Peoples’ rights

December 17, 2018

New Canadians sworn in as Winnipeg museum celebrates International Human Rights Day

December 13, 2018

Statement by the Prime Minister on Human Rights Day

December 12, 2018

Fentanyl is the deadliest drug in America, CDC confirms

December 12, 2018

The Illustrated Version of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

December 11, 2018

Homeless man with terminal cancer donates to holiday toy drive

December 10, 2018

Malala Yousafzai Honored by Harvard for Her Work Promoting Girls’ Education

December 7, 2018

Boy gets Colorado town to overturn snowball fight ban

December 6, 2018

Fortnite addiction is forcing kids into video game rehab

December 5, 2018

Clarity on Cannabis

December 4, 2018

Mental health education recommended for RCMP members following inquest

November 30, 2018

Social Media – 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence

November 28, 2018

Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence

November 27, 2018

#GIVINGTUESDAY TODAY ONLY YOUR GIFT CAN BE MATCHED

November 27, 2018

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

November 26, 2018

#ENDViolence in schools

November 23, 2018

Statement by Minister MacLeod on National Child Day

November 22, 2018

November 20th marks National Children’s Day across Canada

November 21, 2018

National Child Day

November 20, 2018

Facts & Figures

November 16, 2018

The Push For Change®

November 15, 2018

Winter Giving 101

November 14, 2018

First came the stroke, then the inspiration…

November 13, 2018

Canadian Youth Speakers Bureau: Scott Hammell

November 9, 2018

John Connors’ brilliant IFTA Award speech

November 9, 2018

Crisis Text Line powered by Kids Help Phone

November 8, 2018

This teen pizzeria employee traveled 3 hours to deliver pizza to a man with terminal cancer

November 6, 2018

Video captures joyful law student’s reaction to passing her bar exam

November 5, 2018

More teens in Sask. are smokers than in any other province: Health Canada survey

November 5, 2018

MADD Canada launches annual red ribbon campaign in Halifax

November 2, 2018

Young cannabis users who quit see improvements in memory, ability to learn

October 31, 2018

Nova Scotia’s Health Department says talks underway for province’s first overdose prevention site

October 31, 2018

Crystal meth eclipsing opioids on the Prairies: ‘There’s no lack of meth on the street’

October 29, 2018

Opioids Don’t Discriminate: An Interactive Experience.

October 26, 2018

Guelph police warn drug users of spike in purple fentanyl

October 25, 2018

Canadians share powerful stories of teachers who made lasting impressions

October 24, 2018

What exactly are you inhaling when you vape?

October 23, 2018

Study ADHD Medication Overdoses

June 14, 2018

A Cry for Guidance

January 18, 2018

Vaping 101 – Health Relation, Benefits, Dangers, Fun Facts and More

January 2, 2018

Your Friend’s Substance Abuse

September 15, 2017

Depression

September 15, 2017

Methamphetamines

September 15, 2017

Alcohol

September 15, 2017

25 Healthy Ways to Feel Better

September 15, 2017

Opioids Don’t Discriminate: An Interactive Experience.

October 26, 2018

From November 5-9, you are invited to Opioids Don’t Discriminate: An Interactive Experience. This event profiles local statistics and opioid information while immersing participants in an interactive journey through three different fictionalized character stories, based on the real-life experiences of those affected by opioid use. These stories will address the pervasive stigmas and judgments about people who use drugs, strengthen empathy and understanding, and humanize substance use and misuse statistics.

Through interactive elements, you will learn about the science of addiction, the impact of opioids and how the crisis is affecting us locally, provincially and nationally.

Walk in Natasha, David and Max’s shoes, and challenge what you think you know.

Please note this event deals with real-life subject matter about addiction and substance misuse. This may have sensitive content for some participants. Subject matter may not be appropriate for youth under 12 years of age.

Event Location and Times

The interactive experience is located in the Community Centre’s Agora at 401 Festival Lane, Sherwood Park.

Monday, November 52 p.m.-7 p.m.
Tuesday, November 6: 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Wednesday, November 7: 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Thursday, November 8: 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Friday, November 99:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

School, group or organization bookings can be arranged by contacting Family and Community Services at familyandcommunity@strathcona.ca or 780-464-4044.

Meet Max

Max is smart and reliable. He loves reading, math, sports and his cat. He loves to draw and paint buildings and cityscapes, and works hard at school so he can apply for post-secondary scholarships to study architecture.

Max has grown up in the same town with the same friends, but his parents are separating so he and his mom and brother are moving to a new city to be near his grandma. She just had hip surgery so she needs a lot of help so Max is trying to help out as best he can. Moving and his parents splitting has been really hard. And even though his dad travels a lot, Max misses him.

Max doesn’t want to make new friends. He had friends. He had a life. But his parents seem so much happier, and even Robbie likes his new school, so Max is trying not to complain too much. He just feels alone, and he is so uncomfortable at school. The people are different, the classes are different, and he only knows his family. Max feels anxious more and more every day, trying to fit in, keep his grades up, help out with grandma and Robbie… When he’s invited to a party, he’s hopeful he will finally make some new friends and feel like he belongs.

Meet David

David is an account manager and has been working his way towards a promotion for the last couple of years. He has two younger children and is happily married. His kids’ activities keep him and his wife busy after work, and when he isn’t cheering them on, he plays beer league hockey and goes to movies with his wife.

He was recently injured at one of his games, and he is struggling with the pain. The hospital gave him medication, but he still can’t go back to work, and on bad days, he can hardly get out of bed. He tries to cook and help at home, but it’s difficult and painful. Getting to appointments and even to his kids’ activities is a huge struggle, and he’s becoming more and more frustrated. It seems like nobody actually understands how much he hurts and how much his injury is impacting his life. Work and bills are piling up, he’s missing out on his kids’ lives and he hasn’t been on a date with his wife in ages. He just wants to get back to normal and feel better. It shouldn’t be this hard.

Meet Natasha

Natasha is separating from her husband and her mom is recovering from hip surgery, so Natasha accepted a transfer for her job so she and her sons, 16-year-old Max and 8-year-old Robbie, can be closer to family. While the move takes them away from the only home her boys have known, Natasha knows how much they love their grandma and is hopeful they’ll feel supported and grounded in family life. Both Max and Robbie have always had large social circles and like to be active, so Natasha is confident they’ll adjust quickly.

Max is smart, reliable and loves school. While he missed team tryouts, he’s making new friends and he’s been a huge help driving Robbie to school, helping out at home and even taking food to his grandma and spending time with her. There have been many long days as Natasha transitions to her new job, takes her mom to appointments, helps her around the house and with meals, and helps the boys settle in, but it seems like they’re adjusting, and she hopes she made the right choice for them all.

Information and article provided by www.strathcona.ca

Phone: 780-464-4044
Fax: 780-449-1220
Email: familyandcommunity@strathcona.ca