Launch of Provincial Alcohol Strategy

Note: A list of the Department of Health Promotion and Protection Addiction Services Alcohol Task Group follows this release.

Nova Scotia launched Canada's first provincial alcohol strategy, today, Aug. 29. The goal of the strategy is to support a cultural change so that Nova Scotians who choose to drink will do so without harming themselves, their families or their communities.

The strategy, called Changing the Culture of Alcohol Use in Nova Scotia, paves the way for strengthening prevention, early intervention and treatment programs, builds community support, and provides direction for developing healthy public policy and research initiatives.

"Research tells us that one in five Nova Scotians who consume alcohol do so in a way that negatively impacts on their health and well-being," said Health Promotion and Protection Minister Barry Barnet. "With the launch of this strategy, we have taken a responsible, evidence-based approach to deal with this important public-health issue."

It is estimated that harmful alcohol use costs the province $419 million annually in health, social and economic costs. In addition, an annual average of 3,100 hospital admissions, 42,000 hospital days and 230 deaths can be attributed to harmful alcohol use.

"Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug in our communities," said John Malcom, CEO, Cape Breton District Health Authority. "The evidence of increasing use is clear and it's distressing, especially when we see the level of excessive drinking and abuse of alcohol among teenagers being accepted as normal behaviour.

"It isn't normal for teenagers to be binge drinking to the point that their health and safety is at risk, or to break the law. A healthy community can't accept this type of behaviour as normal."

The strategy was developed by the Health Promotion and Protection Addiction Services Alcohol Task Group, experts who deal with the impact of harmful alcohol use first hand. It was chaired by Todd Leader, district manager, addictions services, South Shore District Health Authority.

"Alcohol is a public-health issue and an issue of chronic-disease prevention. The task group would like to thank the province for committing to an evidence-based approach to developing a healthy alcohol policy," said Mr. Leader. "The launch of this strategy is an indication that promoting and protecting health in Nova Scotia is a priority for the province."

The full strategy and government-response document can be found at www.gov.ns.ca/hpp

Note: Below is a list of members of the Alcohol Task Group

• Todd Leader, chair of Alcohol Task Group, district manager, Addiction Services, South Shore District Health Authority

• Alana Brown, community outreach worker, Alcohol, Cape Breton District Health Authority

• Samantha Cukier, social marketing coordinator, Alcohol Strategy, Addiction Services, South Shore, South West and Annapolis Valley Health Authorities

• Erin Findley, community outreach worker, Alcohol, Addiction Prevention and Treatment Services, Capital District Health Authority

• Karen Finnigan, community outreach worker, Alcohol, Cape Breton and Guysborough-Antigonish-Strait Health Authorities

• Paul Helwig, clinical program manager, Addiction Prevention and Treatment Services, Capital District Health Authority

• Amanda Hudson, program administration officer, Alcohol, Addiction Prevention and Treatment Services, Capital District Health Authority

• Heidi MacLeod, prevention and community education coordinator, Addiction Services, Colchester East Hants District Health Authority

• Mel MacNeil, manager, Addiction Services, Guysborough-Antigonish-Strait Health Authority

• Sophie Melanson, prevention and community education officer, Alcohol Strategy, Addiction Services, Colchester-East Hants, Cumberland, and Pictou Health Authorities

• Barbara Miles, prevention and community education coordinator, Addiction Services, Department of Health Promotion and Protection

• Tom Payette, director, addiction services, Addiction Prevention and Treatment Services, Capital District Health Authority