Pubdate: Wed, 01 Dec 2004 Source: Ring, The (U of Victoria, CN BC Edu) Copyright: 2004 The Ring Contact: http://ring.uvic.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2134 UVic CONTRIBUTES TO NATIONAL ADDICTIONS SURVEY There's some good news in a recent national survey on substance use, says the UVic-based Centre for Addictions Research of BC. The results show that although the use of illicit drugs may be on the rise, these substances are harming fewer people. "This could be because some people are learning to use substances in less harmful ways," says CAR-BC's communication and resource director, Dan Reist. "This is good information because it means that the harm reduction approach to drug education may be working. However, the survey also shows that nearly eight per cent of British Columbians report problems related to their own alcohol use. Most of these are heavy drinkers." The Canadian Addictions Survey (www.ccsa.ca), released on Nov. 24, provides a detailed picture of how Canadians aged 15 years and older use alcohol, cannabis and other drugs, and the impact that use has on their physical, mental and social well-being. The survey shows that use of alcohol, cannabis and other drugs has increased in Canada over the past decade--with alcohol and cannabis continuing to be the most commonly used drugs. Of particular concern is the increase in heavy drinking and cannabis use among 18 to 24-year-olds. The B.C. Ministry of Health Services contributed $82,000 and CAR-BC added another $20,000 to the survey so that the sample of B.C. respondents would increase by 2,000, tripling the number of B.C. residents surveyed and providing an opportunity for more detailed analysis. "Now that we have a clearer picture of substance use in Canada, researchers at CAR-BC can provide evidence-based advice to inform public policy and programs on issues of vital concern to our communities in B.C." says Dr. Martin Taylor, UVic's vice-president research. CAR-BC's mission is to facilitate population health research on the understanding, prevention, and treatment of problematic substance use. Over the next year, CAR-BC and the Mental Health Evaluation and Community Consultation Unit at UBC will analyse and study the B.C. data in more detail. They'll issue a series of reports that will guide policy development and service planning on addictions in B.C. According to the recently released B.C. Ministry of Health Services document, Every Door is the Right Door, approximately 33,000 British Columbians have a dependence on illicit drugs. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek