Alcohol: The Most Abused Drug in Canada

With heavy weekend drinking growing rapidly among our nation’s youth, parents must teach kids at an early age that alcohol is, first and foremost, a drug... as dangerous as any illegal drug. And beer or wine is no less harmful than liquor. The fact is, one bottle of beer or glass of wine has the same alcohol content as one shot of whisky.

PHYSICAL EFFECTS
Heavy alcohol use can take a great toll on the body. If a large enough quantity is consumed in a short amount of time, the brain’s ability to control breathing and heart rate may be harmed -- and death may occur.

Effects of heavy drinking for a number of years include severe damage to the liver, heart and pancreas; and an increased risk of cancer of the mouth, larynx, esophagus and liver. Heavy drinking may lead to malnutrition, stomach irritation, lower resistance to diseases, and irreversible brain and nervous system damage. On the average, the life span of a heavy drinker is shortened 10 to 12 years.

Alcohol problems are not limited to heavy drinking. About half of all alcohol problems occur among social drinkers.

Increasing among teenage drinkers is the use of other drugs in combination. When marijuana is used with alcohol, the dangers are greatly increased. Quaaludes and barbiturates increase the depressant effects of alcohol, leading to stupor, possible coma, even respiratory and heart failure.

FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME
For pregnant women, alcohol use can be especially dangerous, possibly resulting in spontaneous abortions, or children with slow growth, birth defects, and learning and behavioural disorders. Women who drink during pregnancy run the risk of having children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), which includes physical problems and irreversible intellectual disabilities.

ALCOHOL, KIDS AND CARS
Drinking and driving can be fatal. Nationwide, drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 account for 23 per cent of all traffic fatalities and 18 per cent of traffic injuries related to drinking and driving. Yet this group constitutes only 15 per cent of drinking drivers. In fact, alcohol-related
traffic fatalities are among the leading causes of death among 16- to 19-year-olds.

ALCOHOLISM
The need to drink before facing certain situations, frequent drinking binges, a steady increase in drinking, drinking alone, early morning drinking -- these are some of the warning signs of alcoholism, a disease that affects over half a million Canadians. The alcoholic tears apart families and careers, unable to control his or her drinking. It is a problem that gets progressively worse, and is potentially fatal. Treatment is extremely effective, but prevention is better.

WHAT A PARENT CAN DO
In Canada, 83 per cent of all teenagers use alcohol, and five per cent of Canadian teenagers have five or more drinks at a single sitting, four or more times per month. Parents can be a strong force in lowering these frightening statistics.

With the average beginning age of alcohol use at about 13, and the average age of teenage drinking on a regular basis at 16, parents must reach their children at nine or ten. Young people should be strongly encouraged not to drink because of the dangers associated with this drug.
Parents should keep an open line of communication, serve as role models, and provide emotional support and a loving family life. As children enter the age where there will be pressure to drink, you should be firm with them about alcohol use.

Communicate. Don’t hesitate to call the parents of your children’s friends. Find out if, indeed, they will be there to chaperon a party. Let them know you don’t appreciate liquor, or even beer, being allowed. Let your children know the consequences of attending a party where alcohol is
being served.

Find out when dances and parties will be over. Make sure your children are where they said they’d be. And keep a sharp eye on your own liquor supply.

YOUR KIDS AND DRUGS -- SPOT IT/STOP IT
As part of Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix’s new program, "Your Kids and Drugs -- Spot It/Stop It," the pharmacists at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix have prepared a series of informative free pamphlets.

In addition to their pamphlet on alcohol, reprinted here, pamphlets are also available at the prescription counter of every Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix store on marijuana, cocaine, other illegal drugs, how to spot drug use, and how to protect your child from drug use.

WHERE PARENTS CAN TURN TO FOR HELP
Your provincial or local alcohol or drug abuse authority will be able to tell you where to find professional help in your area, if you should find you need assistance in controlling a drug or alcohol problem. Many parents have found that they can be more successful in keeping their
children drug free by working together with other concerned parents in their community. These parent groups can be found in almost any neighbourhood across the country. To find out more about parent groups, contact these organizations.

(This information was originally printed by Shoppers Drug Mart Limited and is reprinted here with permission. For more information, contact them at (416) 493-1220 or call one of the resources below. You may also contact your local drug or alcohol abuse centre.)

RESOURCES:

CODA (Council on Drug Abuse)
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 763-1491

Addiction Research Foundation
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 595-6000

Alcohol & Drug Concerns Inc.
Scarborough, Ontario
(416) 293-3400

PRIDE CANADA Inc.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
(306) 975-3755
1-800-667-3747

Bureau de Consultation Jeunesse
Montreal, Quebec
(514) 844-1737

Narcotics Anonymous
Montreal, Quebec
(514) 844-3092

Groupes familiaux NAR-ANON
(aide aux familles)
Montreal, Quebec
(514) 643-3903

ASPA
Montreal, Quebec
(514) 324-6662