The Annex in Sarnia

03/14/2025

Have you had “blackouts” or “flashbacks” as a result of drug use?
Blacking out can simply be blanks in memory, but more dangerous is ‘passing out’ or losing consciousness altogether, depending on where you are or what you’re doing. We are so familiar with op**te overdose, in the news. More and more, street substances have unknown or unwanted other substances, basically not being what you believe you are getting. Overdose is the gamble.
Flashbacks, on the other hand, are recurring bouts of feeling ‘high’ without consumption, the effects of continued use of certain substances. In both these cases, they are undesired effects.
If you answered ‘yes’ to this question, your substance use has progressed beyond mere recreational use, and you are now experiencing the consequences of chemicals in your brain.
Isn’t it about time you get off this path? At The Annex, caring support staff can walk through a path of recovery of your choice. We’d love to hear from you, 226-216-0863, or email to [email protected], Your story can have a better future.
The Annex in Sarnia, 184 Davis St. Mon-Wed-Fri 11:30 – 3:30pm Bringing hope and joy. A charity in Sarnia.

03/11/2025

Do you try to limit your drug use to certain situations?
As with the use of alcohol, limiting drug use to safe and appropriate situations is a good thing. But drug use at work, school or in public may NOT be a good thing at all, especially when it requires full command of all your faculties, or get you in trouble.
If you answered ‘no’ to this question, your drug use has the potential to introduce significant harms into your life, consequences that would be unwanted. Drug use at work for instance can bring the loss of your job. We are familiar with driving under the influence.
Take the step now to turn your life around. As compassionate counselling and support staff, we know how hard it is to start a path to recovery. A simple call to 226-216-0863, no obligation. Or send an email to [email protected], in confidentiality. We are on your side.
The Annex in Sarnia, 184 Davis St. Mon-Wed-Fri 11:30 – 3:30pm One life at a time. A charity in Sarnia.

03/09/2025

Do you ‘abuse’ drugs on a continuous basis?
So, what is meant by ‘continuous’? It’s relative, isn’t it? Well, not really. There’s always a progression of increased use, to abuse.
‘Abusing’ drugs each day started perhaps with ‘use’ once on the weekend. Then it progressed to all weekend, drying out for the weekdays. Then once or twice during the week, then.…
If you answered ‘no’ to this question, consider where are you in this progression. You may believe now that it is NOT continuous, but every weekend without fail could also be ‘continuous’, couldn’t it?
However, there is good news. As compassionate counselling and support staff, we understand this and would love to come alongside you. The start of a meaningful life for yourself can start now, right now, with a simple call to 226-216-0863. Or send an email to [email protected], in confidentiality.
The Annex in Sarnia, 184 Davis St. Mon-Wed-Fri 11:30 – 3:30pm One life at a time. A charity in Sarnia.

03/06/2025

Are you always able to stop using drugs when you want to?
Sure you can. “I can stop anytime I want!” “Absolutely, no sweat!” But, here’s another question: “Have you tried?” If you have and failed, or, it’s getting harder to stop, you are at a critical juncture, at the proverbial cross-roads. It’s time for a change in course.
If you answered ‘no’ to this question, you may have met one of the critical components of an addiction. That’s a tough place to be.
Good news though, it is never too late. As compassionate counselling and support staff, we know that there’s hope. Your return to health can start today, right now with a simple call to 226-216-0863. Or send an email to [email protected]. This can be the start of dreams fulfilled.
The Annex in Sarnia, 184 Davis St. Mon-Wed-Fri 11:30 – 3:30pm Recovery at your fingertips. A charity in Sarnia.

03/02/2025

Can you get through the week without using drugs (other than those required for medical reasons)?
Everyone’s week is full of ups, downs and in-betweens. But if you can’t get through a normal week without reaching for those psycho-active drugs, we just might be in trouble. This could be the start of an unhealthy ‘dependence’ on a chemical substance to get us through life.
If you answered ‘yes’ to this question, you might be engaged in precursor addictive behaviour that can easily erode into harmful consequences. If unchecked, the downhill ride is usually one-way.
BUT, it is never too late. As compassionate counselling and support staff, we know the way out. Your release can start today, right now, with a simple call to 226-216-0863. Or send an email to [email protected]. You too can know hope and freedom.
The Annex in Sarnia, 184 Davis St. Mon-Wed-Fri 11:30 – 3:30pm Recovery can be yours. A charity in Sarnia.

03/02/2025

02/28/2025

Do you abuse more than one drug at a time?
Taking a ‘cocktail’ of drugs or substances at the same time, outside the knowledge or your prescribing health professional, is a sure-fire way to get into trouble, especially if your intention is alter your mood, perception, consciousness, cognition, or behavior.
There are abundant reasons to avoid self-medicating ‘cocktails’, most related to immediate physiological and psychological side effects and harms that would be undesired.
If you answered ‘yes’ to this question, consider this as a red flag, an indicator of distress, a sign of something not quite right, your soul lacking peace.
Talk to someone you trust. As compassionate counselling and support staff, we can explore together these unchartered waters and get to a shore of safety. A simple call to us at 226-216-0863 can be a simple first step to a life free from the noise. Or send an email to [email protected].
The Annex in Sarnia, 184 Davis St. Mon-Wed-Fri 11:30 – 3:30pm The path to peace. A charity in Sarnia.

02/26/2025

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs..." The "Love Passage (1 Corinthians 13)" is one of the most popular and quoted bible passages, but do you notice something? Every description of love is about an action or a lack of action. It is not about a feeling or an emotion or a "want to."
Our distortion of romantic love has robbed us of so much. Love is a cup of cool water to the thirsty, a meal to the hungry, shelter to the homeless. Love is not ignoring someone's sorrow, not walking past the lonely, nor reveling in someones failure. You don't have to feel love in order to show love to someone. We are on your side. 321 Talbot St. St Thomas, right beside the Grace Cafe. 226.896.0080 and 184 Davis St, Sarnia, phone 226.216.0863.

02/24/2025

Have you ‘abused’ prescription drugs?
‘Abuse’ is any deviation from the instructions on the container. This can include consumption of other medications, drugs or alcohol, that are contra-indicated (advised against, i.e. harmful). This question applies primarily to psycho-active drugs, which alter a person's mood, perception, consciousness, cognition, or behavior.
Prescription drug abuse includes medications that belong to someone else, or are acquired without a pharmacy, or prescribing agency, referring to drugs that are acquired ‘on the street’ from friends, family or drug dealers.
If you answered ‘yes’ to this question, you are crossing a line into the harms of addiction. This is a ‘gateway’ behaviour that gets easier to cross when repeated. Again, it is not the act that is the issue, it is the reason for doing so.
Consider reaching out. As confidential counselling and support staff, we can help you access services downline, if necessary. A simple call to us at 226-216-0863 is a simple first step to a life free from the harms of substance use. Or send an email to [email protected].
The Annex in Sarnia, 184 Davis St. Mon-Wed-Fri 11:30 – 3:30pm The path to a purpose driven life. A charity in Sarnia.

02/22/2025

Have you used drugs other than those required for medical reasons?
Reasons to use drugs outside of medical reasons would generally include to ‘feel good’, to ‘get high’, to heighten or counter the effects of alcohol, to alter one’s mood, or to experience something, just to name a few non-medical reasons. All reasons have one thing in common: a desire or need to escape, self-medicate, dull, or chemically change how we experience life.
If you answered ‘yes’ to this question, you may have ventured into unknown and dangerous waters. Using a substance in this way is not the issue, but rather ‘why’ one is using the substance. At the heart of any desire to mess around with substance use is a deeper need that is not being met, or the presence of pain and trauma.
We are your first line of help. As confidential counselling and support staff, we can help you access services downline, if necessary. A simple call to us at 226-216-0863 is a simple first step to a life free from addiction. Or send us an email to [email protected].
The Annex in Sarnia, 184 Davis St. Mon-Wed-Fri 11:30 – 3:30pm The path to hope and freedom. A charity in Sarnia.

02/20/2025

When we think of drug addiction, we believe younger people are mostly at risk for this. However, anyone can become addicted to drugs, regardless of age, gender, or background.
Drug addiction is not only prevalent among those who engage in consumption of illegal street drugs but can also arise from abuse of prescription pharmaceuticals. Nature also throws its many offerings in the ring. The bottom line is that substances become the necessary way to cope.
Substances alter the chemistry and functioning of the brain, by crossing the blood-brain barrier. They can awaken an increasing dependence or need to medicate oneself. If you are struggling with the use of substances, the question to ask is ‘WHY?’.
If you are struggling with substances or know of someone who is, in the next few weeks, we will be posting questions that can help you assess and come to terms with this condition. To jump start your recovery, a simple call to us at 226-216-0863 can be the life-saving first step to a life free from addiction.
The Annex in Sarnia, 184 Davis St. Mon-Wed-Fri 11:30 – 3:30pm The path to hope and freedom. A charity in Sarnia.

02/19/2025

If you have ever wondered if you have a drinking problem, there is a discreet way you can assess your alcohol consumption. It is called the MAST screening test and it is widely available online. The higher the score on MAST, the higher the severity of your drinking.
One doesn’t become addicted overnight. It can develop very slowly over time or be accelerated by a traumatic event. In either case, if you don’t become aware of the progression, your state of addiction can surprise you suddenly.
Regardless of how, or why your drinking has become problematic, it is NEVER too late to do something about it. There are millions of people who have successfully overcome this debilitating problem and now live healthy and successful lives in permanent recovery.
Take a step today. A simple call to 226-216-0863, to open a door of hope and freedom. We’d be happy to send you a copy of the MAST screener by email, without obligations.
The Annex in Sarnia, 184 Davis St. Mon-Wed-Fri 11:30 – 3:30 Where hope prevails. A charity in Sarnia.