Understanding Substance Use
Health is a state of total well-being—physical, mental and social—helping us both survive and thrive in our everyday lives.
Evaluating Mental Health and Substance Use Information
If you've been looking online or in the media for information to help yourself or a loved one, you may be frustrated by some the conflicting information you've found. With all of the information out there, how do you know what information you can trust?
Media
With all of the information coming at us these days, it can be hard to filter out what is good information and what information isn't so good. This is especially true when it comes to information about mental health and substance use.
The Language We Use to Talk About Mental Health and Substance Use
Words matter. They impact the assumptions we make about others, the way we understand someone else’s experiences, and the value we place on others.
Junkie, Addict or Person with a Substance Use Disorder?
Language in journalism
Reprinted from the "The Language We Use" issue of Visions Journal, 2018, 14 (1), p. 35
In the business of words, language matters. I recognized this as a child, when I would plow through books, stopping at beautifully crafted sentences to re-read them out of admiration. That a few words strung together could transport a reader and evoke the deepest of emotions has always stuck with me.
With the New Cannabis Laws, Is Everyone Now an “Addict”?
Visions Journal, 2018, 14 (1), p. 11
Why Is the Language of Addiction So Tricky?
Reprinted from the "The Language We Use" issue of Visions Journal, 2018, 14 (1), p. 8
“I don’t think we can underestimate the power of language” – Carol Bruess
Treatments: What Works?
It seems like everyone has an opinion when it comes to treatments for mental health or substance use problems. To add to the confusion, it isn’t always obvious who is basing their opinions on real evidence and who is not. And while we often hear people talk about evidence-based treatments, it’s also clear that complementary and alternative medicine approaches are helpful for some.
Finding the Right Help - Navigating the System
While it's common to talk about the mental health system, the system isn’t a singular entity. The system might include primary care, mental health, substance use, housing, income assistance, and justice. They are not always accessed the same way, through similar gatekeepers.
