We treat drug addiction

Cocaine is a stimulant drug that creates an intense but short-lived high by flooding the brain with dopamine. Because its effects wear off quickly, users often binge, leading to cycles of use and crash that increase the risk of dependence.

Health risks include cardiovascular issues like heart attack and stroke, mental health concerns such as paranoia and anxiety, and social harms related to impaired judgment. Over time, cocaine addiction can lead to significant personal, financial, and relationship damage. 

Learn more about how we treat cocaine addiction.

Methamphetamine, or meth, is a powerful stimulant known for its destructive short and long-term effects. Unlike cocaine, meth’s impact can persist for hours, creating a sense of euphoria and energy. This makes it highly addictive, with a rapid onset of dependence.

Chronic meth use causes severe dental decay, cardiovascular damage, and profound changes in brain chemistry. Users may experience paranoia, hallucinations, ‘meth mouth’ and aggressive behaviour.

Learn more about how we treat methamphetamine addiction.

Cannabis is legal in Canada, but legalization does not eliminate the risks of misuse. While many use cannabis without developing dependence, some individuals, especially young adults, experience withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and difficulty cutting back.

Risks include impaired memory and attention, decreased motivation, and an increased likelihood of developing anxiety or psychosis in vulnerable populations. The normalization of cannabis use has also made it harder for families to recognize when use has become problematic. 

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Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid up to 100 times more potent than morphine. It is prescribed in some medical contexts but is also widely present in the unregulated street drug supply, often mixed into heroin or counterfeit pills. This makes it extremely dangerous, as users may not know they are consuming it.

The Canadian opioid crisis is driven largely by fentanyl and fentanyl analogues. Overdose can occur within minutes, and very small doses can be fatal, which has led to families across the country being devastated by sudden losses connected to fentanyl use. 

Learn more about how we treat fentanyl addiction.

Ketamine is an anesthetic with growing interest in the medical community for its potential to treat depression and chronic pain in controlled, clinical settings. However, recreational use carries high risks.

When misused, ketamine can cause dissociation, hallucinations, and memory loss. Chronic use has been linked to bladder and kidney damage, and psychological dependence can develop quickly. The dual nature of ketamine, both as a potential therapeutic and a drug of misuse, makes it especially complex. 

Learn more about how we treat ketamine addiction.

Hallucinogens include LSD, psilocybin (magic mushrooms), mescaline, DMT, and MDMA, among others. These substances alter perception, mood, and cognition. While they do not generally produce physical dependence, repeated use can lead to psychological reliance.

Risks include “bad trips,” persistent flashbacks, and potential triggering of mental health conditions such as psychosis. MDMA is particularly risky due to its stimulant effects, which can cause dehydration, overheating, and long-term serotonin system damage. 

Learn more about how we treat hallucinogen dependence.

Opioids include both prescription pain medications (oxycodone, hydromorphone, codeine) and illicit substances (heroin, illicit fentanyl). They are among the most addictive drugs, producing powerful euphoria and rapid tolerance.

Withdrawal from opioids is extremely uncomfortable and often leads to relapse. Risks include fatal overdose, organ damage, and the spread of infectious diseases through injection use. The opioid crisis continues to strain families, communities, and healthcare systems across Canada. 

Learn more about how we treat opioid addiction.

Prescription drug misuse is a growing concern, especially among young adults. Stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin are often misused as “study drugs,” while benzodiazepines and sleeping pills are misused for relaxation or escape.

Even when prescribed, these medications can create tolerance and dependence if not used as directed. Risks include overdose, withdrawal complications, and co-occurring mental health disorders. Families are often surprised to find addiction developing around legally obtained medications. 

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Inhalants are everyday products like glue, paint thinner, aerosol sprays, and nitrous oxide that can produce mind-altering effects when inhaled. They are especially dangerous because they are inexpensive, easy to obtain, and often misused by adolescents and young adults.

Even a single use can cause “sudden sniffing death” from heart failure. Chronic misuse can damage the brain, liver, kidneys, and lungs. Inhalant addiction is often hidden due to stigma, but it can have life-altering and sometimes fatal consequences. 

Learn more about how we treat inhalant addiction.