Report Released on Alcohol Use in Nova Scotia

One in five Nova Scotians who drink alcohol put themselves at risk.

A Nova Scotia Health Promotion study released today, Dec. 5, shows that Nova Scotians risk injury, violence, heart and liver diseases, some cancers, unwanted or unplanned sex and even death because of the way they drink.

"The concern is not that Nova Scotians drink, rather it's how they are drinking," Health Promotion Minister Rodney MacDonald said while releasing the Alcohol Indicators Report. "Many Nova Scotians drink socially and do so without harm, but some Nova Scotians drink alcohol in such a way that it has a negative effect on their health and well-being. It can also effect their family and community."

Mr. MacDonald said having a leisurely drink at home over supper with a spouse carries very different risks than having several drinks at home before going out for a night on the town with friends.

Nova Scotia Health Promotion is beginning work with partners to develop a strategy aimed at effectively reducing harmful drinking in the same way the successful tobacco strategy and the recent problem gambling strategy tackle those health issues.

The Alcohol Indicators Report states that 74-81 per cent of Nova Scotians are current drinkers. Of these, about 117,000, or one in five drinkers, engage in drinking that can put themselves or others in harm's way.

Heavy drinking means consuming five or more drinks for males and four or more drinks for females, on one occasion, and poses a high risk of health and social problems. As the number of heavy drinking occasions increases, so does the risk of experiencing problems.

Underage drinkers, young adults aged 19-24, men, and those who have never been married are most likely to engage in heavy drinking and be identified as high-risk drinkers as defined by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). AUDIT is a standardized tool used in clinical settings to identify when a person's alcohol use is harmful.

Each year in Nova Scotia, an average of 600 hospital admissions and 230 deaths can be attributed to alcohol. Liver disease (30 per cent), injuries (33 per cent), and alcohol-related cancers (20 per cent) account for most of these deaths.

"Drinking is such an ingrained part of our society that most people are oblivious to the problems it can cause. This report is an opportunity to refocus attention on the use, mis-use and abuse of alcohol," said Mel MacNeil, a clinical therapist with addictions services in the Cape Breton District Health Authority.

Nova Scotia Health Promotion is funding five positions in district health authorities' addictions services units beginning in January and will continue to fund those positions next fiscal year, to support the strategy's development in communities.

Barbara Miles, the co-ordinator of this report, says that the strategy will target the most harmful drinking patterns.

"Reducing heavy drinking, particularly among underage drinkers and young adults, will be a focus," she said.

The Alcohol Indicators Report is based on data drawn from several sources including: four recent prevalence studies (Canadian Addiction Survey, Canadian Community Health Survey, Nova Scotia Gambling Prevalence Study, and 2002 Nova Scotia Student Drug Use Survey), Canadian Institute for Health information discharge abstract database, Statistics Canada's vital statistics database, and the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.

The report was prepared for Nova Scotia Health Promotion by Linda Graham, epidemiologist, and can be found online at www.gov.ns.ca/ohp/addictionPrevention.html .