The Canadian Medical Journal reports that according to the latest data from the 2005 Canadian Addiction Survey, 79.3% of Canadians 15 years and older drink alcohol which is up from 75% in 1994.
The Canadian Addiction Survey data also reported that 44.0% of Canadians who use alcohol drink at least once weekly and that 9.9% drink 4 or more times per week.
Risky Drinking
Accordingly to guidelines for low-risk drinking, alcohol intake should not exceed 14 standard drinks per week for males, and 9 standard drinks per week for females. However, in 2005, 17% of drinkers in Canada engaged in hazardous drinking, 25.1% of whom were men and 8.9% women. Among former and current drinkers, 24.2% reported that their drinking had caused harm to themselves or others.
The Canadian Addiction Survey data also reported that 44.0% of Canadians who use alcohol drink at least once weekly and that 9.9% drink 4 or more times per week.
Risky Drinking
Accordingly to guidelines for low-risk drinking, alcohol intake should not exceed 14 standard drinks per week for males, and 9 standard drinks per week for females. However, in 2005, 17% of drinkers in Canada engaged in hazardous drinking, 25.1% of whom were men and 8.9% women. Among former and current drinkers, 24.2% reported that their drinking had caused harm to themselves or others.
Death by Alcohol
In 2002, 1631 people less than 65 years died of chronic diseases attributed to alcohol; this figure translates to 2.4% of all deaths in this age group, nearly 43,000 years of life lost prematurely and nearly 125,000 hospital admissions because of alcohol-related chronic diseases. Moreover, alcohol consumption is related to death by suicide.
Risky Lifestyles
Being a young male with a family culture of alcohol abuse are risk factors for alcohol misuse. However, one wonders at the growing rate of young female alcohol abuse. Psychiatric illness and illicit drug abuse are also highly prevalent among people who misuse alcohol. As well, cigarette smoking rates are reported to be as high as 80%–90% among people with alcoholism, and smoking-related disease is the primary cause of death among people recovering from alcoholism.
Professional Help
Some people are helped by doctors, psychologists, counselors who give brief advice but others require more extensive help in treatment. Some may benefit from craving reduction medications.
Self-Help
Participation in self-help groups (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous) is particularly useful for alcohol dependence/alcoholism. The psychosocial support provided is most helpful for the achievement of long-term sobriety, and membership in Alcoholics Anonymous has been linked to a reduced risk of alcohol-related suicide.
1 comment:
Looks like alcohol use is on the rise in Canada. Great to see AA being recommended.
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