Alcoholism costs Canadians $15 billion a year, and that’s just the financial cost, say Manitoba experts

[Anonymous]

My brother is a policeman in rural Manitoba..



He has to deal with the effects of alcohol abuse all the time.



According to Winnipeg police, alcohol abuse might be the 'most taxing and common issue' cops face on a daily basis.



"When our call volumes spike, we look back on what happens, and whether it's Christmas or a long weekend ... it's always the key," police Cst. Rob Carver told 680 CJOB.



"Alcohol abuse is right there.



"It is, without question, the key factor that turns ... a potential problem in a domestic situation into a violent one."



Alan Katz, director of the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, said that potential for violence has a huge social impact in terms of hospitalization and the toll on the medical field.



"The impact is huge in terms of hospitalization, visits to emergency rooms, children in care, domestic abuse," said Katz.



"The risk associated with those things, with people who were diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder or those who weren't... it's two, three times the rate."



The Addictions Foundation of Manitoba (AFM) says alcohol has moved into the unenviable position as Canada's worst substance.



A report released in 2018 by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction and the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research estimated alcohol cost Canadians almost $15 billion per year in terms of lost productivity, justice costs, and more.



"You think, 'Oh my gosh, we have this opioid crisis, we have this meth crisis," said AFM's Dr. Sherri Fandrey.



"Seventy per cent of the costs to our Canadian society (are caused by) alcohol and tobacco. Alcohol recently overtook tobacco as the most costly, the most harmful substance we have in Canada."

https://globalnews.ca/news/5060998/alcoholism-has-social-financial-costs-manitoba-experts/">https://globalnews.ca/news/5060998/alco ... a-experts/">https://globalnews.ca/news/5060998/alcoholism-has-social-financial-costs-manitoba-experts/

[Anonymous]

My brother is a policeman in rural Manitoba..



He has to deal with the effects of alcohol abuse all the time.



According to Winnipeg police, alcohol abuse might be the 'most taxing and common issue' cops face on a daily basis.



"When our call volumes spike, we look back on what happens, and whether it's Christmas or a long weekend ... it's always the key," police Cst. Rob Carver told 680 CJOB.



"Alcohol abuse is right there.



"It is, without question, the key factor that turns ... a potential problem in a domestic situation into a violent one."



Alan Katz, director of the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, said that potential for violence has a huge social impact in terms of hospitalization and the toll on the medical field.



"The impact is huge in terms of hospitalization, visits to emergency rooms, children in care, domestic abuse," said Katz.



"The risk associated with those things, with people who were diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder or those who weren't... it's two, three times the rate."



The Addictions Foundation of Manitoba (AFM) says alcohol has moved into the unenviable position as Canada's worst substance.



A report released in 2018 by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction and the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research estimated alcohol cost Canadians almost $15 billion per year in terms of lost productivity, justice costs, and more.



"You think, 'Oh my gosh, we have this opioid crisis, we have this meth crisis," said AFM's Dr. Sherri Fandrey.



"Seventy per cent of the costs to our Canadian society (are caused by) alcohol and tobacco. Alcohol recently overtook tobacco as the most costly, the most harmful substance we have in Canada."

https://globalnews.ca/news/5060998/alcoholism-has-social-financial-costs-manitoba-experts/">https://globalnews.ca/news/5060998/alco ... a-experts/">https://globalnews.ca/news/5060998/alcoholism-has-social-financial-costs-manitoba-experts/

I live in Winnipeg. I know what a huge factor booze is on emergency services in this city.

[Anonymous]

In many cases, alcohol is only a symptom of the real disease.

[Bricktop]

Alcohol certainly costs me hundreds of dollars a year.



 

[Anonymous]

Alcohol certainly costs me hundreds of dollars a year.



 

If I had my way, taxes on alcohol would be much higher.

[Bricktop]

May you NEVER have your way!!!

[Berry Sweet]

Everything should be illegal except marijuana.  Its the best way to go.

[Frood]

Alcohol certainly costs me hundreds of dollars a year.



 

If I had my way, taxes on alcohol would be much higher.

That's ok.



I'm sure 700 grams of rice can have its duty increased to 25 or 30 dollars. Seems only fair.  ac_smile

[Anonymous]

Alcohol certainly costs me hundreds of dollars a year.



 

If I had my way, taxes on alcohol would be much higher.

That's ok.



I'm sure 700 grams of rice can have its duty increased to 25 or 30 dollars. Seems only fair.  ac_smile

Rice is a staple.....alcohol is a staple for the police.

[Frood]

Pastries and donuts more like it.

[Anonymous]

Pastries and donuts more like it.

Not my brother, he's very fit.

[Frood]

An anomaly.

[Anonymous]

An anomaly.

An out of shape police office is an anomaly..



They have to meet yearly physical standards.

[Anonymous]

Pastries and donuts more like it.

Not my brother, he's very fit.

Dinky Freud is an out of shape, chain smoking alcoholic. He is too out of shape to make the cut on the police or fire department.

[Bricktop]

I don't think he's out of shape.



"Round" is a shape, right?