Pubdate: Wed, 09 Dec 2009 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2009 Times Colonist Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Cited: McCreary Centre Society: http://www.mcs.bc.ca/ CHEERS! ALCOHOL UP, DRUGS DROP British Columbians' consumption of alcohol is up, while marijuana and crystal meth use is down, say researchers at the University of Victoria Centre for Addictions Research. Researchers from five B.C. universities and the McCreary Centre Society are participating in the B.C. Alcohol and Other Drug Monitoring Project, which draws on data from police and emergency departments, Health Canada surveys and Statistics Canada, among other sources. They announced yesterday that British Columbians' alcohol consumption has risen 16 per cent since 1998, almost twice the nine per cent increase seen in the rest of Canada, leading to a 17 per cent increase in the number of people hospitalized because of alcohol. While use of marijuana and crystal meth (methamphetamine) is down, use of crack cocaine, ecstasy and prescription medication is up. Teens are drinking and smoking less, although the report found that young people are now more likely to smoke marijuana than tobacco. Even teen marijuana use has dropped, however. Dr. Tim Stockwell, director at the Centre for Addictions Research, said tobacco continues to be the most dangerous substance, with tobacco-related deaths outpacing others. The report showed geographic variations in drug use. Stockwell said. "For example, respondents in Vancouver were significantly more likely to have used crack, heroin, crystal meth and mushrooms, while those in Victoria were more likely to have used amphetamine." The alcohol and drugmonitoring project is funded by health authorities across the province, and the Ministry of Health. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D