Residents in this region of Ontario are more likely to consume alcohol – and more of it – than their counterparts across the province.
In an effort to address that reality, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) is developing an alcohol harm prevention strategy.
According to a WDGPH report first presented last year, alcohol consumption rates in Wellington County, Dufferin County and the City of Guelph are “significantly higher” than Ontario.
The report, which uses data from 2013, indicates 81% of those above the age of 19 in Wellington, Dufferin and Guelph reported drinking alcohol in the last 12 months, whereas the provincial average was 72%.
And 50% of area residents aged 19 and older reported exceeding at least one of Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Guidelines, while the Ontario average was 41%.
The low-risk guidelines include tips to help Canadians decide when, where, why and how they choose to drink alcohol. They suggest, for example, not drinking more than 10 alcoholic beverages a week for women and 15 drinks per week for men.
At the March 2 WDGPH board meeting, medical officer of health Dr. Nicola Mercer presented an alcohol harm prevention strategy.
Her report outlined ways public health plans to better-inform residents about making alcohol-related decisions, including:
– building public policy to help improve municipal alcohol risk management policies;
– leading a preconception health screening study with primary care providers;
– strengthening community action and planning alcohol harm prevention projects with local health, enforcement and service groups;
– developing personal skills and supporting school- and family-based prevention activities; and
– creating supportive environments and raising public awareness of alcohol’s harms.
Mercer’s report states that alcohol is the second leading preventative risk for disability, next to tobacco.
Based on data gathered between 2011 and 2013, alcohol was directly responsible for an average of 463 hospital visits a year in Wellington, Dufferin and Guelph, costing about $1.27 million, not including physician fees, the report states.
“Therefore, reducing alcohol consumption presents an opportunity for significant cost savings at the provincial and municipal level,” the report states.
Board of health member June Hofland asked if public health had any role in helping alcoholics or children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
“We don’t provide client services,” Mercer said. “The children who are delivered with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder would have certain issues and health matters and would likely be referred to a kids line for developmental screening.”
She also clarified that public health doesn’t provide addiction counseling or services.
“We can inform where they are in the community,” Mercer said. “I have to say that those services are not well covered in any part of the province; certainly detox centres are in short supply and unless you have large amounts of personal financial resources, accessing addiction centres and services is very challenging.”
The report also stated that drinking and driving remains an issue in the region.
“Local statistics from the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario show that from 2004 to 2013 there were 41 local fatalities and 126 major injuries related to drinking and driving,” Mercer’s report states.
“The community opinions survey confirms that drinking and driving was perceived by participants to be the number one alcohol-related issue in the area.”
The report also states that public health will support provincial policy changes through research, public education and advocacy.
For example, possibly “setting minimum prices for alcoholic beverages based on ethanol content and slightly increasing all minimum prices will likely create a significant reduction in alcohol-related disease, injuries and death.”
Though the change may not have a huge impact on moderate drinkers, there could be positive results with hazardous or harmful drinkers in reducing their consumption, the report states.
The Ontario government is also developing a province-wide policy to reduce alcohol-related harm. Its strategy focuses on promotion and prevention, social responsibility, harm reduction and treatment.
WDGPH officials are “pleased” the province is developing a strategy, but note “making gains may be a difficult task given alcohol’s social and economic context …
“The vision is a community that is free from alcohol-related harm.”
