A D D I C T I O N

You deserve the

help.

We’re here to
help.
Let’s begin by defining what it is.
So… What exactly is, “addiction”?
Derived from the Latin term “enslaved” or “bound to”
ad·dic·tion
/əˈdikSH(ə)n/
noun

exhibiting a compulsive, chronic, physiological

or psychological need for a habit-forming
substance, behavior, or activity addicted to
heroin/alcohol/gambling addicted smokers.
Addiction has Become + I think we can all agree that social media has had a
big influence on the social norms which society
A Norm in Society, +
values, and appreciates.
Speaking for many, we all have that one character

Here’s Why. who we relate to deeply. Often on television I see the

media normalize things such as addiction. They
stitch it into the plot, and act as if it is a normal
coping strategy.
+ Adolescents are very vulnerable. When teenagers
see fictional characters do these types of things
because of family issues, abusive households, etc. In
a way, it normalizes the action..
+ Let’s look at the famous Netflix show, “13 reasons
why”. After only 1 season of the show, the suicide
rates in Canada had gone up. While it is important to
educate people - especially teenagers on issues as
such, shows which normalize and glorify bad habits,
are one of the reasons why things such as addiction
and suicide rates go up.
The Effects of Addiction on….
Individuals Families/ Friends
SHORT TERM SHORT TERM

- Strain on relationship with others - Annoyance

- More likely to commit a crime - Feeling of failure
- Loss of self control - Feeling obligated to help

LONG TERM LONG TERM

- Death/illness/suicide - Depression/ grief from losing somebody you

- Radical decisions = consequences love
- Debt/homelessness - Division between friends and family
- The feeling of abandonment - Broken Relationships
- Personality Change - Loss of trust
- Financial difficulty
Teens Are At High Risk

“According to research from the University of Toronto… , teenagers, with nearly a quarter
of all Ontario students reporting that they were offered illegal drugs in the last year, and
more than 8 out of 10 admitting to at least 1 incident of binge drinking.” (Stone)
 + Erik Erikson is a famous psychologist best known for his
Understanding theory about the different stages each individual goes
through in life
Why Addiction + Stage 5, the stage often associated with where substance
abuse starts, is the stage where 13-21 year olds are faced
Happens When it with the conflict of, Identity vs. Role confusion

Does, Through + These young adults sometimes feel compelled to follow

what society deems mature and cool. Adolescents are very
‘Erikson’s Theory’ susceptible and unaware of the true dangers behind some
of the actions they make.
A Continuation of Analyzing The Effects of Addiction With Erikson
Family
- Let’s assume the individual is a teenager. His
parents would be around 50, and be in stage
7 of Erikson's developmental chart.
- Stage 7 is, “generativity vs, self absorption”.
- This is the stage where many people have a
mid life crisis. They have a lot of unnecessary
stress, and the added stress of dealing with
an adolescence who is addicted to a certain
substance only makes everything a lot harder.
- People going through this stage want to
ensure that they’re doing life right, and that
they hadn’t wasted it being unproductive.
Intimate Partner
- People who are in relationships where their
partner has an addiction problem are more
likely to face further problems (abuse),
depending on how strong said connection is.
- Let’s assume the individuals are in stage 6 of
Erikson’s chart. This is the stage where
people start to settle down and seriously
consider people for their significant others.
- The trust, love, and hope, each partner must
have can be easily destroyed by addiction.
people in love are so vulnerable when
compared to the power of addiction
Social Institutions Which Support ————- Dealing With Addiction

Individuals Families/Friends
- CamH - Church support groups
- Kids Help Phone - Trafalgar Addiction Center
- Canadian Center for Addiction - CamH (coping/therapy unit)
- Ontario Addiction Treatment Centers (OATC) - Kids Help Phone
- Safe Injection Sites (4 in Toronto)
- Sick Kids Hospital
How YOU Can Do Your Part By Noticing The Signs of Addiction
WITHDRAWAL FROM FRIENDS/ FAMILY

- This sign indicates that the individual does NOT want anyone to find out about the problem. This
can go as far as not going to social outings in fear of intoxication, to ignoring/ denying concerns
from loved ones.

UNPREDICTABLE MOOD SWINGS

- Addiction can stem from 1 of 3 categories; stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens. Depressants for
example decrease brain activity (relaxed) making you more calm while stimulants make you very energetic.

SUDDEN PHYSICAL CHANGES

- Drugs not only alter your mind, but can alter your appetite. Many people become severely underweight, or
overweight because of addiction.
 Concluding Thoughts
Hopefully after reviewing this presentation you were able to have a better
understanding about addiction, and why it is such a important social issue
which must be solved. To combat it, we as a society must learn to stop
normalizing and allowing the media to portray it in its current light. We must
come together to take this issue seriously, because addiction is a very real
problem.