Examining the Intersection of Addiction and Issues of Ability in Canada

Abstract

Nearly 2 million Canadians report some form of ability issue. Levels of addiction among these individuals are upward of 60% greater than within the general Canadian population, yet they have significantly lower rates of treatment participation. Lower rates of treatment are due to a variety of reasons, including physical, attitudinal, and programming barriers that are often insurmountable for individuals living with disabilities who wish to access substance abuse treatment. Three areas of ability issues that overlap with addiction are examined in detail—traumatic injury, including brain and spinal cord injury; sensory disabilities that include those living with visual and hearing limitations; and mobility impairments—to highlight gaps in the current treatment continuum in Canada.

Keywords:

• addiction
• Canada
• disability
• mobility impairments
• sensory limitations
• traumatic injury
• treatment barriers