I just thought  Bob had a problem with self-control and didn’t know how to say 'enough' when drinking. I decided to talk to him about it because I was really concerned. I learned that he was abused as a kid, and constantly felt like a failure and full of shame. When he was drinking, that was the only time he could get rid of those thoughts in his head. That totally changed my perspective about why he drinks so much, and I have a lot more compassion for him. Together, we looked for some help for him and now he’s in therapy and drinking a lot less."

Suzan, forklift operator
PART 2 : ALCOHOL & DRUG USE

The Hidden Story of Addiction

When it comes to substance abuse, there’s always more than meets the eye. Misuse of substances never occurs "just because", there’s always something underlying the use.

While it’s understandable that we often focus on the behaviour of substance use, we rarely pay attention to what’s prompting the substance use. Virtually always, there is some type of pain behind the substance use.

Think of an iceberg when it comes to substance abuse:

What we see above the surface:

  • Problem Drinking
  • Substance Misuse
  • Social Disconnection
  • Lack of Control



What we don’t see below the surface:

  • Childhood Trauma
  • Mental Health Challenges
  • Physical, Emotional, & Sexual Abuse
  • Poverty
  • Depression
  • Grief & Loss

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