28th October 2020 • Sticky Post

Addiction Treatment in Canada: Why Canadian Addicts Are Looking Abroad for Treatment Options

Canada’s drug problems have grown exponentially worse in the last few decades. As the opioid crisis rages on, growing numbers of Canadian addicts have been dying from opioid overdoses, and the deadly substance fentanyl continues to rapidly flow into the country. Canada has taken some progressive measures to deal with the crisis, such as opening North America’s first safe-injection site for heroin users in the addiction-ravaged Downtown Eastside neighborhood of Vancouver, but the country’s strategies for dealing with addiction seem to oscillate wildly between the progressive approaches favoured in many European nations, and the zero-tolerance policy advocated by their powerful neighbour to the south.   

As a result of the country’s failure to create and implement coherent strategies for dealing with addiction, the number of overdose deaths continues to rise year by year, growing from 3,017 dead in 2016 to 4,460 in 2018 (one death every two hours, in a country with a population of just 37 million). The western province of British Columbia has been hardest hit by the epidemic of opioid addiction, with 1,525 deaths occurring in 2018. This rate means that over 20 out of every 100,000 residents of the province are dying from overdose every year!. If you’re a drug addict in Canada looking for solutions, turning your gaze abroad may seem like the wisest approach.

Why Portugal?

Portugal was in the midst of an epidemic of heroin addiction when they made the dramatic decision to embrace the principles of harm-reduction and decriminalize the consumption of all drugs. As one of the architects behind Portugal’s new approach explains it: “We realized we were squandering resources. It made much more sense for us to treat drug addicts as patients who needed help, not as criminals.” By removing the threats of prosecution and incarceration, Portugal has reduced the stigma surrounding addiction, and the number of addicts receiving treatment has increased by 60% since 1998. The results the country has achieved simply by treating addicts with dignity and viewing addiction as a health issue has caused countries such as France, Switzerland and Germany to embrace harm-reduction. Portugal’s clear-headed, compassionate approach to treating addiction makes it an ideal destination for those attempting to overcome substance-abuse problems.

While some cities in Canada have responded to the crisis with enlightened measures such as needle exchange programs and safe-injection sites, the federal government explicitly rejected the harm reduction model in 2007 when a Conservative government renamed the country’s National Drug Strategy a National Anti-Drug Strategy. This change was accompanied by mandatory minimum sentences for drug possession, and a return to the punitive strategies of the failed “War on Drugs.”

Canada offers some publicly funded drug treatment options to addicts looking to reclaim their lives, and there are also privately run residential treatment facilities. These centers have the benefit of being close to home, but for Canadians without substantial bank accounts, the cost of effective treatment in a comfortable setting can be staggering. Luxury private facilities have rates rising as high as $35,000 per month! And if you’re looking for a publicly funded facility, you need to be prepared for wait times spanning weeks, or even months. The shortage of treatment beds and affordable facilities has pushed many addicts to the brink of despair. 

In theory, seeking treatment in these centers will not put you at risk of increased attention from the police or the stigma of being an addict in a society that views drug use very harshly, but if you’re living in a small community, word might still spread. If you’re looking to be treated with dignity and respect, experience compassionate treatment, and maintain your privacy, going abroad might be your best option. Drug addiction is still viewed harshly in some Canadian communities, with studies finding that addiction carries more stigma than mental illness. In many small towns, the addicted are still seen as criminals who have succumbed to a “moral failing” rather than sick people in need of medical treatment. If you’d prefer to be treated as a person, rather than a junkie, as you begin your recovery journey, you might want to consider seeking treatment in Portugal!

What's So Appealing About Addiction Treatment Abroad?

1) Environment

Leaving an environment full of familiar stressors and temptations can have a beneficial effect in treatment. And traveling abroad can bring a profound sense of relief and relaxation. For addicts from places like the drug-infested Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, a change of environment can be a powerful impetus for recovery. Many of the victims of Canada’s opioid crisis live amid the neighborhood’s carnage and chaos, an environment that inspired renowned physician and author Gabor Maté to write “In The Realm of the Hungry Ghosts”, a best-selling book which has changed the way we view and treat addiction. Dr. Maté argues that addiction is often the product of psychological trauma, that it should be viewed as a disease of the mind, and that sufferers need to be treated with compassion and respect, a view which has gained more traction in Portugal than his native Canada. Dr. Maté notes that “We're seeing much more open-mindedness about harm reduction and programs to alleviate the suffering and death toll from addiction. But we haven't gone nearly far enough.”  

Portugal is a great place to recover from traumas related to addiction. It’s a picturesque country with a lovely Mediterranean climate. It’s dotted with quaint villages, ancient ruins, majestic castles, and miles of beautiful coastline. And there are few regions better suited to recovering your health than Portugal’s sun-drenched Alentejo region. A land of rolling hills and vast plains, the Alentejo offers visitors the opportunity to recover their health and connections to the natural world by riding horses, watching birds, stargazing, hiking, and cycling. Many Canadian visitors are especially appreciative of the temperate climate, peaceful lifestyle, and delicious regional fare, and escaping a harsh Canadian winter can be extremely beneficial to your mood and receptiveness to treatment. All this, while enjoying a rehab facility that rivals a luxurious resort or hotel for a fraction of the cost of treatment back home. You’ll disconnect from a toxic environment and share amazing new experiences with people from all around the world!

2) Privacy

While increasing numbers of people are coming to the understanding that addiction is a medical issue, there is still a significant social and professional stigma that comes with seeking treatment for substance abuse. If you head to Portugal, it’s easy to tell friends, family members, and colleagues that you’re off on a much-needed vacation and avoid awkward conversations and prying questions. There’s also no risk that someone will spot you emerging from a clinic or support group meeting and start whispering.

3) Promising Treatments Unavailable At Home

We’ve written a lot about the undeniable power of ayahuasca and iboga to combat the addictive properties of opioids and other drugs and to open the addicted mind to the idea of a positive transformation into recovery. Because Portugal has decriminalized all drugs, promising treatments that cannot be obtained in a safe medical setting in Canada can be accessed here with the supervision of health-care professionals. If you think a treatment that uses a psychoactive substance is your best option, we’d recommend getting away from Canada, where iboga’s murky legal status makes it difficult to find responsible treatment providers. Iboga is legal to possess in Canada, but the substance is illegal to sell, and recent reports suggest that the government is taking steps to ban its importation and use.

In spite of our belief in iboga’s remarkable ability to interrupt addiction, we would strongly advocate against using it in regions where misguided laws force its use underground, creating potentially fatal health risks.

4) Easy Intake

When you’ve reached rock bottom, a treatment center that can quickly start the process of detox and recovery can be a life-saver. The prospect of waiting months for the in-patient treatment you need can be a heart-breaking, motivation-sapping roadblock. Canada’s drug treatment programs are underfunded, one of the main reasons why the majority of Canadian addicts are pushed into outpatient treatment programs. Treatment centers abroad can immediately start the intake process, allowing you to strike back at your addiction when you’re feeling hopeful and motivated. This can make all the difference in the world! 

Iboga Tree Healing House

At Iboga Tree Healing House we have a unique ability to accommodate clients from around the world with our welcoming, open-minded, and international staff.. You’d be hard-pressed to find a treatment center more committed to the safety of their clients than Iboga Tree Healing House. We’re also deeply committed to maintaining a supportive and non-judgmental environment for facilitating recovery and personal growth.

In addition to offering iboga treatment, we also provide a wide array of holistic treatments, including breathwork, kundalini yoga, equine-assisted therapy, kambo, and more. All of these practices are extremely beneficial for re-energizing both body and spirit to pursue recovery. In combination with our ten-hectares of outdoor space, large terraces, and outdoor swimming pool, we let nature remind our clients to be grateful and receptive to new horizons and second chances. We have many testimonials from people around the globe who’ve benefited immeasurably from experiencing our treatments in beautiful, sunny Portugal. If you’d like to experience treatment abroad, don’t hesitate to get in touch!