Alcohol abuse is not restricted to Canada. Alcohol is readily available worldwide and becoming addicted to alcohol happens quickly. It is also one of the more deadly types of addictions as quitting alcohol cold turkey, can lead to seizures, and over time individuals that abuse alcohol do develop cirrhosis of the liver which can cause early death. While more countries are becoming aware of the problems of alcohol abuse and the citizens have taken measures to drink less, shockingly enough, according to Canadian Government Statistics in 2016, 19 percent of the population of Canada abuses severely yet, and these are only the cases that have been identified. With all the dangers of abusing alcohol, Canadians seem to be reluctant or not able to confront and let go of dangerous drinking patterns.
More shocking facts about alcohol abuse in Canada
According to the Canadian Outreach Ontario, these are the most current statistics:
- Over 1.3 million Canadians are seriously addicted to alcohol. This does not include the alcohol-impaired individuals that do not seek treatment. The numbers according to this center, are probably staggeringly higher.
- Canadian children under the age of 18 live in households where at least one parent is impaired by alcohol routinely.
- Astoundingly, more than 50 percent of high school and even elementary school children in Canada either binge drink, meaning drinking regularly until drunk, or even drink routinely each day.
- College students on campuses in Canada fare even worse with over 80 percent having problems with alcohol at least some of the time.
- Hospitalizations for alcohol-influenced overuse are more common in Canada with higher blood alcohol levels. Drinking so much that one passes out can lead to alcohol toxicity and death.
- The cost of alcohol abuse in Canada via hospitalizations is a staggering 8 million dollars per year.
- While some hospitalizations are the result of car crashes, or falls, and other accidents, and are listed as such on death certificates, alcohol is usually found in the bloodstream. Cirrhosis of the liver caused by years of alcohol abuse also accounts for many deaths and hospitalizations as does heart attack, and cancer, which can also be attributed to overuse of alcohol.
- A whopping 6 percent of suicides in Canada occur because of the overuse of alcohol.
Why do Canadians disregard the health concerns of alcohol abuse?
- Alcohol in Canada is seen many times as a food rather than an addictive substance.
- Indigenous populations exist within Canada where alcohol is considered part and parcel of the culture and all get-togethers and parties.
- The Government in Canada does realize that more education and outreach opportunities are needed to socially support Canadians that are having difficulties with alcohol.
- Canadians are proud and admitting to a problem is very difficult for most.
- Alcohol abuse is not the only addiction that Canadians struggle with as the Opioid crisis has not yet been fully addressed and many Canadians suffer from cross-addictions.
- Canada is not alone in its battle with alcohol addiction or other drugs as even though the USA has many strict laws to prohibit the sale of alcohol and drugs, even cigarettes, there is rampant use in the school systems of each country with children as young as 11 years of age dabbling in drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes.
- Health insurance plans in Canada are government provided and not all provinces offer coverage for alcohol or drug addiction treatment. Some do, but only a portion of the cost might be covered. It takes a lot of research to navigate the health insurance fields in Canada. Unlike the USA, where all health insurance companies must include drug and alcohol recovery payments, this is not the case in Canada. Once a Canadian develops a disease related to alcohol, they have a better chance of medical coverage than when seeking treatment for addictions.
- More focus is given to Opioids and other drug addictions by the media and doctors in Canada than it is to alcohol.
- The legal drinking age varies from Province to Province with some territories having a low age of 18. The legal drinking age in the USA is 21.
- Driving under the influence in Canada carries severe penalties and can lead to a criminal conviction depending upon the amount of impairment that is present in a driver. A driving license can be revoked for quite a long time, and jail time might ensue. This leads many Canadians not to report their friends or relatives when drunk driving is occurring, and the alcohol abuse is not then reported or added into the data.
- The demographics in Canada concerning alcohol abuse show approximately just as many women abuse alcohol as men. In addition, the 65-74-year-old age group admits to drinking above the guidelines given by Canada’s Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines (LRDG). Individuals over the age of fifty made up about 48 percent of those admitting to drinking outside these guidelines.
- Some parts of Canada are very remote, and individuals living alone or isolated from others can tend to drink more in this type of environment.
How can Canadians with an alcohol problem find help?
The facts are that it can be difficult to find help for an alcohol problem in Canada. First, admitting there is a problem needs to be done. Then a search for a medical detox center either inpatient or outpatient must occur. Insurance issues must be addressed, and a support system set up for the recovering alcoholics after treatment and detox occurs.
A holistic approach works best, with continued therapy, and a focus on physical and emotional well-being. Staying sober from alcohol is extremely difficult as it can be purchased in either government stores or some licensed private grocery and franchise stores. Unlike drugs, which must be purchased slyly on the street, alcohol is everywhere in Canada, as it is in most countries. Refraining from alcohol is a lifetime commitment as one drink is all it takes to become addicted immediately again. Abstinence and avoidance of situations where alcohol is served need to be a priority.
