An article from The Conversation published in June 2024, Brain injury after overdose is a hidden epidemic: Recognizing and treating the survivors of the toxic drug crisis, resonates with VBIS’ mission and what we strive towards every single day. Support, educate, advocate.
At VBIS, we have experienced firsthand the unfortunate reality of people learning that they may have a brain injury post-overdose, only after seeing one of our advocacy presentations at their place of residency or out in the community. There is a staggering lack of knowledge on brain injuries and even more so for brain injuries caused by toxic drugs and overdoses, which is becoming increasingly prevalent in our vulnerable populations.
An overdose survivor being unaware of their potential injury means they are limited to the services and supports they can access, which can lead to a negative cycle of repeated behaviours. And while brain injuries are often invisible, its effects are not and can impact every aspect of a person’s life thereafter. A few life-changing effects of a TBI is:
- Cognitive Impairments [Memory, Attention, Motor Skills]
- Lack of Self-Awareness [Social, Emotional]
- Executive Deficits [Decision-Making, Problem-Solving, Task Completion]
The BC Consensus on Brain Injury, Mental Health, and Addiction found that organizations like VBIS, that provide social and community programs, are the main steppingstone for survivors to receive the supports they need and confidently move towards rehabilitation. Through individual support, peer support, family support, and various group programs, we believe in helping create a better future for brain injury survivors.
Here at VBIS, our support system and services are brain injury-informed first. This allows us to create an environment for customized client growth. We’re here to help you recover, adapt, and adjust; regain independence; and develop a secure sense of community. If you’re not yet a client, we’d love to hear from you, our team can help you get started and explore the right fit for your recovery journey.