Pubdate: Mon, 20 Oct 2014
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Page: A1, Front Page
Copyright: 2014 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Peter O'Neil
Cited: Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse: http://www.ccsa.ca

WAGE WAR ON BOOZE, HEALTH GROUP TELLS OTTAWA

Booze Causes More Harm Than Drugs and Should Be Added to National
Anti-Drug Strategy

OTTAWA - The Harper government, which has waged a long and aggressive
campaign against illicit drug use, should put more energy into the
battle against alcohol abuse, according to the Canadian Centre on
Substance Abuse.

The Health Canada-funded organization wants the federal government to
include alcohol in its $ 570- million National Anti- Drug Strategy
that was launched shortly after the Conservatives took power in 2006.

The Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse, which has already gone public
to call on Ottawa to undertake a study on the public health
implications of decriminalization or legalization of pot, argues that
alcohol causes far more harm in Canada than drugs.

Alcohol causes more deaths than lung cancer and more hospital stays
than all other substances combined, the organization argues in a brief
submitted to the House of Commons finance committee that is seeking
public comment on the 2015 budget.

It is also closely linked to spousal abuse and fatal motor vehicle
crashes, and according to a 2002 study on crime, the cost of alcohol-
related offences was $ 3.1 billion, versus $ 2.3 billion for drug offences.

"Renewed efforts to reduce the prevalence and harms of alcohol abuse
could alleviate burdens on our enforcement, justice, health and social
care systems," the centre stated in its submission to the finance committee.

A B. C. criminologist urged Prime Minister Stephen Harper to follow
the advice of the independent federal body that provides advice on
substance abuse. "The line that we have drawn between legal and
illegal drugs has everything to do with history, politics and culture,
and almost nothing to do with public health," said Neil Boyd, director
of Simon Fraser University's school of criminology.

"For most people and in most circumstances, alcohol is a drug that is
much more destructive to health than cannabis."

The federal government has allocated $ 570 million since 2007- 08 for
its multi-pronged strategy that involves numerous departments,
including Justice, Health Canada and Foreign Affairs.

Funded programs include those involved in gathering drug-related
foreign financial intelligence, forensic accounting, tax compliance,
border patrols, drug prosecution, drug treatment, and health promotion
and education efforts especially involving youth.

The proposal doesn't make a specific recommendation on how Ottawa
would bring alcohol into the strategy, but suggests the federal
government could join with the existing federal and provincial
government departments, organizations and the alcohol industry that
are already collaborating on ways to discourage excessive boozing.

"Given its overall emphasis on youth substance abuse prevention, the
National Anti-Drug Strategy also provides a mechanism by which the
Government of Canada can address alcohol abuse among the country's
young people, ensuring they have the best opportunity to enjoy
positive economic, social and health outcomes in later life."

A spokesman for Health Minister Rona Ambrose didn't comment
specifically on the proposal, saying the government will review all
submissions before the budget is tabled in early 2015. 
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