Poverty: Substance Abuse Substance Abuse: Alcohol by Darren 1. What are the main issues for this topic? Alcohol is one of, if not the most used drug worldwide. The main issues that surface about alcohol and alcohol abuse are drinking and driving, domestic violence, and serious health problems. 2. What are some regional examples of these issues? At work, the presence or affect of alcohol can strain your relationship with coworkers, cause lateness to work with increasing frequency, cause the loss of employment because of decreased productivity. Despite their lower economic resources, the level of alcohol consumption among the unemployed is 58% higher than the overall average, and the unemployed are more likely to report heavy drinking on a weekly basis, says CCSA. At home, alcohol starts violence and arguments. It impairs judgment, reduces inhibition, and increases aggression. Alcohol is constantly a present factor on spousal and child abuse. A 1993 study of more than 2,000 American couples found rates of domestic violence were almost 15 times higher in households where husbands were described as often drunk as opposed to never drunk. Alcohol is also a huge risk to pregnant women. Birth defects are a can result from the mother drinking while pregnant. 3. How does this issue affect me (at the personal level)? Being a Canadian teen, this issue affects me because the issue of alcohol is constantly around me. According to the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), approximately three of every four Canadians aged 15 or older (76.8%) drink alcoholic beverages. I have been a witness to people that have lost ones to the consequences of driving while under the influence of alcohol. Most of the parties that I attend have alcohol present. There are people there with cars so it is the responsibility of everybody to make sure that there are designated drivers. 4. How does this issue affect youth in my community? Alcohol can largely affect any community. Most people drink moderately (one drink per day or less and never more than five on any occasion). However, there are a considerable number that drink immoderately. CCSA say that 42% of drinkers reported consuming five or more drinks on at least one occasion, and 6.2% reported doing so on a weekly basis. More than one in six Canadians (17.8%) exceed the low risk drinking guidelines of 14 drinks a week for men and nine drinks a week for women, with no more than two drinks on any given day. The more you drink the more likely you are to have problems at home, work, and/or school. There are actions that you can take personally or in a group to prevent drunk driving from gatherings and parties. Some examples include staying over night, having a designated driver to drive the drinkers home or to a close hotel, take a bus or a taxi, plan not to drink, encourage others not to drink or see that they have a safe way home. It is a good idea for young drivers to sign contracts with their parents about arranging a ride home when the young person has been drinking. The contract could stop the youth from driving drunk and relieve some of the worries of calling the parents for help. 5. How does this issue affect youth in the Americas? The problem of people drinking and driving is a problem throughout the Americas. According to Ontario Community Council on Impaired Driving (OCCID), over two-thirds of crashes occur on weekends and one-quarter of all crashes happen on Saturday. Over 66% of drinking/driving crashes happen between 6pm and 3 am. In Canada, the single largest criminal cause of death is impaired driving. Against Drunk Driving (ADD) Canadian Statistics show that in 1993 there were 133 deaths and 1,002 injuries due to operating a motor vehicle while impaired, in 1994 there were 100 deaths and 919 injuries. While young drivers account for one of the largest percentages of automobile crashes, (According to TeenDrivers.com, the 16-to-20-year-old age group was involved in over 2 million vehicle crashes in 1997. This age group makes up 7% of licensed drivers, but suffers 14% (6300) of fatalities) their rate for alcohol-related crashes has been declining since 1983 faster than any other age group, while drivers aged 25-34 have since been accounted for the largest proportion of alcohol-related crashes. Many drivers underestimate the effects that alcohol has on them and so are more impaired than they may believe. Alcohol also interacts negatively with more than 150 medications, for example antihistamines and painkillers. Combining the too can boost the effects of drowsiness and impaired actions. Sources used in the creation of this article: 1: Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse www.ccsa.ca website that provides information and resources for help for substance abuse. 2. Ontario Community Council on Impaired Driving www.occid.org "Some things you should know about drunk driving" 3. Against Drunk Driving Canadian Information www.add.ca/canstat.htm ADD statistics about drinking and driving