Anchoring Hope: Shifting Perspectives During National Addictions Awareness Week

Each November, Canadians come together for National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW) to highlight solutions that address the harms related to alcohol and other drug use. The week offers an opportunity to learn more about prevention and harm reduction, discuss treatment and recovery, and explore pathways toward meaningful change. 

Spearheaded by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), NAAW aims to raise awareness about substance-use health and addiction, promote understanding of people who use substances, and ultimately improve health and well-being across Canada. 

This year, National Addictions Awareness Week runs from November 16 to 22, 2025, with the theme “Anchoring Hope.” The CCSA explains the reasoning behind the theme: 

“Working in the substance use health field and addressing its challenges can result in different experiences, ideas, and opinions for individuals, families, and communities. At times, it can be challenging to agree on the best ways to address these issues in Canada.  Hope is an optimistic state of mind that holds expectations for positive outcomes. Exploring and discussing substance use health can lead to positive outcomes such as connections and growth.”

Anchoring Hope in Connection

For Lori Chenger, an instructor in the Addictions & Community Support Worker program at Willis College, the theme Anchoring Hope deeply resonates. Having worked for over a decade in mental health, rehabilitation, and addictions, Chenger has seen firsthand that hope is not abstract — it’s something that must be anchored in connection, compassion, and understanding.

“What drew me to this field,” she explains, “was being a witness to the parts of people that most want to hide — the shame, the silence, the stories that we feel no one will understand. When they aren’t understood, they’re often met with judgment, which can lead people into gateway behaviours. I wanted to be part of changing that narrative.”

For Chenger, hope becomes the anchor that steadies individuals and communities as they navigate the often turbulent waters of recovery. It’s not simply about surviving — it’s about finding the connection points that allow people to grow, heal, and thrive.

Beyond Labels: Seeing the Human First

Chenger’s passion lies in witnessing transformation — seeing people move beyond stigma and reclaim their identities.

“There’s a saying, ‘don’t judge a book by its cover,'” she shares. “I get to see those covers change — people once labeled as having a substance use disorder now becoming program managers, earning degrees in social work, writing workbooks to help others, and, most importantly, rediscovering joy and connection.” 

Still, she acknowledges that the field comes with challenges.

“With all the great work happening, we’re sometimes only scratching the surface of change,” she says. “Addiction can be anyone’s label — parents, siblings, CEOs. When we focus only on the word addiction, we miss the human being behind it. We need to look at the why — the root causes that lead people to numb pain.”

To Chenger, Addiction Awareness means recognizing that we all have something we’re attached to — stories, patterns, or beliefs — that can either move us forward or hold us back.

“We’re a society that needs to be seen, heard, and understood,” she says. “Addiction awareness isn’t just about treatment — it’s about compassion, empathy, and the courage to look deeper.”

Evolving Conversations and Hopeful Shifts

Over the years, Chenger has seen the conversation around addiction evolve from moral judgment to compassion and understanding.

“In the beginning, addiction was viewed as a character flaw or moral weakness,” she explains. “It’s encouraging to see the dialogue shifting to a people-first narrative that values harm reduction and holistic care.”

She notes that a major trend in the field is the inclusion of individuals with lived experience, alongside education and professional training.

“We’re seeing more people who’ve walked the journey now using their experiences to help others — combining empathy with evidence-based knowledge.”

This shift aligns with a more integrated mental health approach, recognizing that issues like anxiety, depression, and substance use are deeply interconnected.

The Power of Language and the Meaning of “Anchoring Hope”

Chenger often reminds her students that language carries energy — and that the words we choose can either weigh people down or help them rise.

“Words carry vibrational energy,” she says. “If we keep using words like ‘addict,’ we fail to see the person, their loved ones, and the potential for success. Labels lock us in old patterns.”

That’s why she connects so strongly to this year’s NAAW theme.

“I love the phrase Anchoring Hope,” she explains. “It reminds us that the ‘weight’ of addiction isn’t the trauma itself — it’s the resources, compassion, and societal shifts that help build a stronger foundation for recovery. Success isn’t only for individuals in recovery; it’s for society when we hold space for healing and recognize each person’s worth.”

In other words, language — when rooted in hope — becomes a lifeline. It allows people to see not who they were, but who they can become.

Education as a Catalyst for Change

At Willis College, Chenger’s work as an instructor allows her to inspire future addiction and community support professionals.

“My students keep me hopeful,” she says. “These programs give people — many with lived experience — the tools to transform their stories into meaningful careers. I teach them to be curious about their growth, to celebrate wins, and to tell their stories from a place of strength rather than pain.”

Her classroom is built on compassion, cultural awareness, and a holistic approach to education. Students learn to see clients not just through the lens of addiction, but as whole individuals — spiritual, emotional, cognitive, and physical beings.

“We focus on the person, not the problem,” she says. “Our goal is to prepare students to bring dignity, empathy, and hope into their work — and into the lives of those they serve.”

Building Compassionate Communities

Chenger believes that Anchoring Hope extends far beyond the classroom — it’s something communities can practice every day.

“Community members can support NAAW by looking beyond stereotypes,” she says. “Addiction doesn’t discriminate. It can affect anyone — the CEO, the secretary, the janitor, or the unhoused person living on the street. We need to see people as valuable before we see titles as valuable.”

For Chenger, the most important message of NAAW is one of unity and understanding.

“Sometimes people don’t need to be ‘fixed,'” she reflects. “They need compassion to heal. If we all look inward — with empathy and curiosity — we can help others move forward. That’s how we anchor hope.”

Program At a Glance

Addictions & Community Support Worker Program
Duration: 48 weeks or 1080 program hours
Delivery Method: Online

The Addictions & Community Service Worker diploma program at Willis College provides the hands-on training and certifications you need to support individuals, families, and communities affected by addiction and social challenges. Instructor-led and delivered online, the program helps learners build practical skills in counseling, communication, conflict resolution, and case management. 

Recognized by the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation (CACCF), this program ensures graduates meet the national standards in addictions counselling and community support. Graduates also earn industry-recognized certifications in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NVCI), LivingWorks Start, and CPR/First Aid.

Lori Chenger is an international award-winning motivational speaker and best-selling author featured in several compilation books. For the past 12 years, she has also served as a college instructor, sharing her expertise and passion for helping others. Lori has spoken on many stages, including at Cambridge University (UK) and at the University of Calgary (Canada). In addition to teaching, she has been a consecutive workshop facilitator for the Calgary Board of Education and has built a diverse career in the fields of mental health, rehabilitation, and addictions. Lori is currently based in Edmonton and is the lead instructor of the Addictions & Community Support Worker diploma program at Willis College.