Alcohol Consumption Steadily Increasing in BC

Alcohol consumption has risen significantly in BC in the past decade. Per adult (15 years and older) absolute alcohol* consumption across BC has increased from 8.26 litres per person in 2002 to 9.18 in 2008. Per adult absolute alcohol consumption also continues to rise across most Health Authorities and Health Service Delivery areas.

*Absolute alcohol refers to pure alcohol. For example, usually only 5% of a bottle of beer is "absolute alcohol."

Substance Use Linked to Large Number of Hospitalizations

Substance use affects the physical and mental health of a substantial number of BC residents. Evidence demonstrates that hospitalizations for illnesses related to tobacco and alcohol are much higher than those for illicit drugs. In fact, hospital admissions due to illnesses attributable to tobacco are more than five times higher, and those attributable to alcohol are almost four times higher. In 2007 there were a total of 26,813 tobacco-related hospitalizations, 18,580 alcohol-related hospitalizations, and 4,864 drug-related hospitalizations across BC.

Alcohol and Other Drug Use in BC is the product of the Alcohol and Other Drug Use Monitoring Project, a Research and Knowledge Transfer Hub of the BC Mental Health and Addiction Research Network.

The project collects and organizes multiple streams of data related to risky substance use and associated harms in BC. The data is constantly being analysed and presented in ways that support the development and maintenance of effective services and supports for people in BC.

The project is hosted and led by the Centre for Addictions Research of BC with the collaborative involvement of:

• BC Centre for Disease Control
• BC Centre for Social Responsibility
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
• East Kootenay Addiction Services
• McCreary Centre Society
• Providence Health Care
• Vancouver Coastal Health