The Emily Dahl Foundation stated: 

“Those who use intoxicants, drugs, or narcotics to escape from the common normal human condition will find that they have put obstacles in their own path when the time comes later to abandon these artificial methods for the natural ones which alone can give a permanent result. As such, drugs to treat drugs is not logical. Let’s get to the root of the problem – negative emotions. Let’s work on that and the thoughts of the world will begin to change to joy.

It is useful to look at the work of Gabor Maté and others to see that “getting to the root of the problem” is the real solution. ”   

THE WORK OF GABOR MATE

Dr. Maté says,

“We need to change the conversation to provide an effective response to the crisis. Dissuading people from taking drugs and treating addictive behavior isn’t the answer. Understanding and addressing the emotional pain and adverse conditions at the root of addiction would be significantly more effective.”

“Simply talking about trying to stop or preventing addiction without looking at those factors, or treating people without looking at their pain, is ineffective,” Maté says.

Sherman Dahl of The Emily Dahl Foundation stated: 

“The work done by Gabor Maté is very good.

The Emily Dahl Foundation is in the process of trying to book Gabor Mate to come to Vernon, BC.

The Emily Dahl Foundation recently hosted Paul Young the author of “The Shack” to a sold-out crowd in Vernon BC. 

Paul Young, Gabor Maté and The Emily Dahl Foundation have a common goal and are focused on getting to “the root of the problem” – this is what will save people – and nothing else.”

• Sherman Dahl

About Dr. Maté

A renowned speaker, and bestselling author, Dr. Gabor Maté is highly sought after for his expertise on a range of topics including addiction, stress, and childhood development.

Rather than offering quick-fix solutions to these complex issues, Dr. Maté weaves together scientific research, case histories, and his own insights and experience to present a broad perspective that enlightens and empowers people to promote their own healing and that of those around them.

After 20 years of family practice and palliative care experience, Dr. Maté worked for over a decade in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side with patients challenged by drug addiction and mental illness. The bestselling author of four books published in over twenty-five languages, Gabor is an internationally renowned speaker highly sought after for his expertise on addiction, trauma, childhood development, and the relationship of stress and illness. His book on addiction received the Hubert Evans Prize for literary non-fiction. For his ground-breaking medical work and writing he has been awarded the Order of Canada, his country’s highest civilian distinction, and the Civic Merit Award from his hometown, Vancouver. His books include In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction; When the Body Says No; The Cost of Hidden Stress; Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder; and (with Dr. Gordon Neufeld) Hold on to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers. He is currently writing his next book, The Myth of Normal: Illness and Health in an Insane Culture, out in late 2021. Gabor is also co-developer of a therapeutic approach, Compassionate Inquiry, now studied by hundreds of therapists, physicians, counselors, and others internationally. More on his books and programs elsewhere at this website

The current opioid crisis is the deadliest in U.S. history, with President Trump officially declaring it a national emergency just a few weeks ago. In response to the President, physician and author, Dr. Gabor Maté, discusses this lethal trend and advocates for the reform of current substance abuse treatment methods.

A New Perspective on an Old Problem

Specialists needs to understand and address the emotional pain of an addict for an effective treatment. The harsh reality is at least 140 people die from overdoses every day in the U.S. – two thirds of which are from opioids. But according to Dr. Maté, this isn’t new information. It’s been going on for a long time, with deaths only increasing each year.

Dr. Maté says, “We need to change the conversation to provide an effective response to the crisis. Dissuading people from taking drugs and treating addictive behavior isn’t the answer. Understanding and addressing the emotional pain and adverse conditions at the root of addiction would be significantly more effective.”

He also feels society’s increased awareness regarding the opioid epidemic and its rising death toll could be due to a change in the demographics – substance abuse disorders are now affecting the suburban, white, middle-class population. It’s this change both Maté and the media suggest has prompted our increased scrutiny.

Dr. Maté proposes, people in the “mainstream” are seeing chemical dependency destroy the lives of their loved ones and growing tired of ineffectual resources that aren’t addressing the root of the problem.

A Closer Look at Cause and Effect

In Maté’s experience, substance abuse stems from a desire to escape adverse conditions, and opioids are the most powerful pain relievers we have for both physical and emotional pain. He believes the primary question in any addiction is not “why,” but “what” is the source of pain we’re trying to escape?

He suggests two main causes of substance abuse:

Childhood trauma

Severe social stress – insecurity, anxiety, and uncertainty

Maté feels the exclusion of trauma and stress in any discussion about chemical dependency is a problem. Substance abuse is spoken about as a matter of choice, hence the initial suggestion that you can deter/dissuade those choices: “If they don’t start, it will never be a problem.” He says, “If the strategy of telling people how bad drugs are was effective, why do we have the current crisis, which has only multiplied five-fold in the last five years?”

He doesn’t think anyone chooses to become addicted or necessarily has a genetic predisposition. Instead, Dr. Maté believes substance abuse results from a combination of factors, such as:

Life experience

Trauma history

Family history

Modern generational trauma

Social factors

“Simply talking about trying to stop or preventing addiction without looking at those factors, or treating people without looking at their pain, is ineffective,” Maté says.

Below is work being done by The Emily Dahl Foundation of Vernon, BC to bring awareness to the real solutions: mindfulness and compassion – and the hard work that needs to happen.

Vernon’s Emily Dahl Foundation to donate more than $10,000 this year – Vernon News – Castanet.net

Group that promotes happiness and compassion chooses scholarship recipient | Vernon Matters

Vernon girl’s suicide prompts happiness lecture – Vernon Morning Star

Acclaimed author to talk mental health at Vernon event – Vernon Morning Star

Compassion conference comes to Vernon – Vernon Morning Star

Mental health advocate joins Dahl Foundation’s happiness chat in Vernon – Vernon Morning Star

Over 1,500 lives lost to toxic illicit drugs in first nine months of 2021 | Vernon Matters