|
Use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs has been linked to a number of illnesses, including liver disease, various types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and blood-borne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C.
The rate of hospitalizations in BC for conditions related to alcohol has shown a striking upward trend (16.49% increase from 2002 to 2008).
Admissions due to diseases or conditions related to tobacco remained relatively consistent from 2002 to 2005 with a slight decline between 2005 and 2008.
Hospitalization rates linked to illicit drugs increased 33% from 2002 to 2008 (from 82 to 109 per 100,000 residents respectively).
|