Drink Alcohol and Die is fast becoming Canada’s preoccupation, main goal, slogan
More Canadians are trying to drink themselves to sleep, Quebec study finds Canwest News Service Published: Friday, January 02, 2009 Canadians are spending hundreds of millions of dollars every year self-medicating their insomnia with alcohol, a new study suggests. “We were very surprised to see that so many people use alcohol as a way to promote sleep, particularly because it has more detrimental than beneficial effects on sleep,” says Charles Morin, a professor of psychology at Laval University and one of the authors of the study, published this week in the journal Sleep. Overall, eight per cent of the sample reported using alcohol as a sleep aid. Among people with insomnia, 28 per cent reported self-medicating with alcohol. The study estimates the total annual costs of the sleep disorder in Quebec alone is $6.5 billion. “We know insomnia is a very prevalent problem, it has a very negative impact on people’s quality of life,” Morin says. “If we can show that it’s 10 times more costly not to treat insomnia because of its impact on absenteeism from work and reduced productivity than it is to treat it, why aren’t we treating it more often?” Part of the problem is that so few people seek help. Morin says some people take sleeping pills, “but there are many more who self-medicate with over-the-counter products or, worse, with alcohol.” The research found the money spent on the use of booze as a sleep aid far exceeds costs associated with visits to doctors and the use of prescription pills and over-the-counter products from antihistamines to herbal teas. “The idea that ’schnapps before your bedtime’ is good for your sleep might have been right about 100 years ago, as long as it was the occasional schnapps,” says Dr. Adam Moscovitch, medical director of the Canadian Sleep Institute and a University of Calgary professor. “When you knock yourself out as a way of dealing with it, if you can’t shut you mind off in any other way, then alcohol has a very negative effect on your sleep. It deprives you of any of the deep stages of sleep and, once it wears off, it has a rebound effect. So your problem becomes much worse.” Of the $6.5 billion estimated annual costs associated with insomnia in Quebec, the biggest indirect cost by far — $5 billion — was reduced productivity. The highest direct cost — $339.8 million — was money spent on alcohol to promote sleep. By comparison, an estimated $16.5 million was spent on prescription drugs, and $1.8 million for over-the-counter products. The study, based on a random sample of 948 adults, distinguished between those people who drink at the end of the day, and those who use booze specifically to help them sleep, meaning they drink before bedtime, or in the middle of the night. Canadians today live in a stressed society with multiple pressures balancing work and family responsibilities. “One of the things we cut corners on is our sleep,” Moscovitch says. http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=bbff0ea3-d36d-45bd-ac3b-773697d5442f
High personal stress, lack of excercise, Smoking, Alcohol, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, obesity. etc., now have all been linked directly to the negative calcium buildup in the coronary arteries around the heart. NOT getting enough sleep increases the risk of clogged arteries and heart disease, research has shown. One’s blood pressure usually dips when people are asleep, which could provide health benefits for those who get more sleep.. a number of studies have suggested that people who sleep less are at greater risk of heart disease and death.. Also “It’s possible, for example, that people who are under more stress may be both sleeping less and at higher risk of heart disease, “If we got those people to sleep more but they still were under a lot of stress, it wouldn’t change their risk of heart disease.” Higher education levels are also associated with both a lower risk of heart disease and a tendency to get more sleep.” Abnormal sleep patterns also can skew the release of appetite- related hormones, which may contribute to heart disease-related conditions such as obesity and diabetes, earlier studies have shown.
Gangs and drugs, alcohol are are still a big problem on Indian reservations and elsewhere. Why? all while zero tolerance for gang affiliations or child pornography, has developed too. We can tackle the supply of drugs by taking on and defeating the criminal gangs who should be treated in the same way as subversive organizations were. “ We all do have to send a message loud and clear to the gangs – you are not tolerated and If you are caught you will be charged. In many cases such gangs are linked to organized crime. You need to fully also go after the gang leaders who are making money using the kids and drugs to do it. The government can now wrest control of violence-plagued reserves by having zero tolerance for gangs and by banning drugs and alcohol from homes, with the help of RCMP and the courts. I can tell you that our government is committed to ensuring that Canada will not be safe haven for those who pose a threat to our national security or the safety of our families and communities. On this, our tolerance level is zero,” Stockwell Day but real actions by the government still do speak louder than words. http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com/2008/12/26/young-offenders/
“The most successful policing model in modern terms is the “zero tolerance” model used in New York . The strategy was known there as “one broken window” following the observation that where there were broken windows and rubbish in streets there was crime. During the programme’s operation in New York, the number of murders plummeted from 2,262 to 629.”
Also “Fear of imprisonment has very little effect on a heroin addict but has a dramatically different impact on a company director who dabbles in cocaine – middle class drug use is helping to fund the violence and we need to adopt a zero tolerance policy towards it”.
Paradoxically, despite all the dangers, warnings , most people continue to drink beyond safe levels on a weekly basis that is more than 14 units of alcohol for women and 21 units for men. At the heart of this strange contradiction is a false belief, best encapsulated by the former Prime Minister in his introduction to the first national alcohol strategy. In the document, Tony Blair assured readers that “alcohol misuse by a small minority” was responsible for the rising levels of social and health harm. In short, problem drinkers are “other people”, spoiling it for the rest of us. In reality this is not so.. Drinking alcohol has become too common amongst too many people. There is “no failsafe guide” on staying under the legal alcohol limit. It’s also worrying that motorists are continuing to ignore the drink-drive message.
“Reality too many of the binge drinkers., if not already are likely to become hard core alcoholics. The real problem of alcohol misuse was much wider than previously thought We are drinking more now than we have ever done since before the First World War. We must transform attitudes towards alcohol. Alcohol, though legal and embedded in our society, is no ordinary commodity. It is very harmful .. never mind the lies, spins, distortions of the alcohol industries, alcoholics themselves.
Attitudes To Alcohol Must Change. A health Minister has called for a change in attitudes towards alcohol by both the public and the drinks industry all year now too. Statistics which show an increase of in the number of people binge drinking, getting drunk and that the statistics also show that we still have a long way to deal with this major problem. 81% of people who choose to drink are still exceeding the recommended daily limits. The cost of alcohol misuse to our society is very real. In just over 10 years, there has been a startling 86% increase in the numbers of people dying due to alcohol related harm. “Now, more than ever, we should all be working together to really tackle this issue head on and I believe the drinks industry has a key role to play. Supermarkets in particular sell alcohol far too cheaply. I am extremely disappointed that despite having met with each of the major supermarkets, and received their personal assurances that they take this matter extremely seriously, those words have not as yet translated into meaningful action. ”On the contrary, they are flooded with festive drinks promotions that will only encourage people to indulge further in binge drinking. This, in my view, is totally unacceptable. Action speaks louder than words. On this occasion, profit is being put before public health.” “The harsh reality is that although alcohol misuse is known to be damaging and harmful to health and well-being
, many people still drink to excess. This must change, and in this respect we all have a collective responsibility in tackling this issue – individuals, society, government and the drinks industry alike.” http://www.emaxhealth.com/2/63/27952/attitudes-alcohol-must-change.html http://www.emaxhealth.com/2/63/27943/northern-ireland-reports-adult-drinking-patterns.html
, many people still drink to excess. This must change, and in this respect we all have a collective responsibility in tackling this issue – individuals, society, government and the drinks industry alike.” http://www.emaxhealth.com/2/63/27952/attitudes-alcohol-must-change.html http://www.emaxhealth.com/2/63/27943/northern-ireland-reports-adult-drinking-patterns.html Perhaps the most worrying aspect of all is the frightening age shift in alcohol use. A generation or two ago, the first experiments with binge drinking were at university or during National Service. The “victims” of those generations who started drinking in their late teens and 20s were perhaps better able to cope with the consequences than 10-14 year-olds today.
The international evidence is quite clear that the health consequences of alcohol misuse are closely linked to a nation’s total alcohol consumption and the main drivers of this are price and availability.
For liver disease and other medical conditions, there can be a time lag of 10 or more years from the onset of serious drinking to reaping the consequences. Now we are seeing patients, particularly women, in their 20s with advanced alcoholic liver disease – a real tragedy for their family as well as themselves.”
Holiday stress, along with getting laid off, has caused too many a person to start drinking heavily and this situation is not unusual.. Sadly when most people think about the upcoming holidays, they think about friends, family, food and good cheer. And for many people, the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s are still particularly difficult. Financial problems are tough to handle for most people at any time, but they can seem overwhelming during this season of giving. Due to unresolved stress Feelings of loneliness, isolation and despair may also intensify but alcohol and drugs are never the answer still. Unfortunately, your friend’s Many people turn to alcohol falsely believing that it helps them to relax and to cope with stress and worry. And because many people think that New Year’s Eve and similar occasions must always be celebrated with alcohol, it’s often readily available, providing another excuse to drink. It actually will likely cause more problems, and not effectively deal with the ones still not resolved Many people next tend to go to excess, extremes, and drinking larger amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of a deadly form of liver damage called cirrhosis, heart disease, some types of cancer and injuries. And even moderate drinking can often have harmful consequences in the wrong setting, such as one should not drink and drive, and drinking alcohol during a pregnancy may seriously harm a developing baby. Alcohol dependence, also called alcoholism, often means that if a person tries to stop or cut back on drinking, he or she may experience anxiety, sweating, trembling, trouble sleeping, nausea and vomiting. Drinking can be risky even for people who aren’t dependent on it. It may seriously still interfere with sleep and productivity, strain close relationships and get in the way of spending time with loved ones. It not only also puts the drinker at risk for becoming alcohol dependent as well as developing alcohol-related health problems. Too many people who really do now suffer from a drinking problem claim still don’t believe that anything is wrong. They faley try to justify that they’re drinking to cope with a particularly stressful time. In their mind, suppposedly the basic stress is the unresolved problem, not the drinking. They say they can stop drinking whenever they want, but they don’t. Two wrongs do nto make one right here too. Denial is a common obstacle that prevents many people from seeking help.
More alcohol use is a concern for health-care professionals, since it means more deaths, illness, injuries and hospital visits, meaning added strain on the health-care system, and additional cost. “There’s 60 different ways in which alcohol can cause premature death and illness,” Too many cops are alcoholic themselves these days it seems too. Showing justice and compassion is rightfully prosecuting all of the guilty alcohol and drug offenders.
Honking, fist-shaking, screaming, obnoxious drivers: the symptoms of road rage. Insurance Corporation of British Columbia Psychologist John Vavrik, who studies driving behaviour for ICBC, says road rage can be better understood as “aggressive driving spectrum disorder.” According to Vavrik, road rage can take many forms. “There’s not a clean definition of it. It’s basically an aggressive act aimed at hurting somebody or sending a message to somebody,” Vavrik said. “The people most at risk of engaging in these behaviours are the least likely to control their behaviour,” he said. “They have low emotional intelligence. They don’t have the tools or skills or strategy to manage their emotions. “In those extreme cases, we’re talking about sociopathic issues. The driver’s a walking time bomb.” According to Vavrik, “road-ragers” are generally underachievers, individuals who lack assertiveness and control, and do not have the status in life they desire. He said the “depersonalized space” of a vehicle is a trigger to road rage, as is an unexpected traffic delay, such as that caused by a slow driver, or being stuck behind an idle bus.
http://www.timescolonist.com/Road+ragers+generally+underachievers+psychologist/1443637/story.html
http://www.timescolonist.com/Road+ragers+generally+underachievers+psychologist/1443637/story.html
Now we know that more people have accident due to road rage, impaired driving, driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol over speeding too and we still do need to review how much time and resources do the police deal with that firstly? “
Despite plunging sales in almost every sector, alcohol sales are on the rise in Ontario, British Columbia and in other provinces over last year . If you drive at twice the legal alcohol limit you are at least 30 times more likely to cause a road crash than a driver who hasn’t been drinking. Alcohol abuse is a problem that is expected to become increasingly common as baby boomers, who have been found to drink more than previous generations, reach age 65 and beyond. ”A lot of folks over 50 are already dealing with diseases associated with aging and medication use that can result in possible complications and drug interactions. And older people who abuse alcohol are consuming an inordinate amount of calories that can displace important nutrients.” It is just a fact, common sense that “even at lower levels of consumption, alcohol can be problematic for older people.” “Because of an increased sensitivity to alcohol and decreased tolerance as one ages, lower amounts of alcohol can have a bigger effect,” he said. “Older people get into trouble with doses of alcohol that wouldn’t be a problem with a younger person.” Immoderate consumption of alcohol — more than three drinks a day — can be hazardous for people of all ages, but especially so for the elderly, who reach higher levels of blood alcohol faster and maintain them longer than younger people. And people who have ailments, like chronic liver disease, or take medications, like psychoactive drugs, that would render any amount of alcohol risky. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism in aging adults is “a silent epidemic.” Many older people pursue drinking patterns established earlier in life and may not realize that continuing to drink the same amount of alcohol as they did when they were younger may place them at risk for health problems.” They all rather should be using diet and exercise to reduce cardiac risk; trying alternative relaxation methods to reduce stress, exercise more ; and, for those who drink, cutting down on the amount of alcohol consumed by mixing it with water, taking an hour to finish one drink and alternating alcohol with nonalcoholic drinks. Because alcohol consumption is a too common practice, questions about drinking are necessarily part of a general medical health assessment.” Health experts warn that drinking too much alcohol, too fast can be dangerous. The Department of Health defines binge drinking as over six to eight units of alcohol in an evening for most adults. Their unit of alcohol depends on the strength of what you’re drinking. One unit is half a pint of ordinary strength lager, beer, or cider; a 25 ml measure of spirits; or a 125 ml, small glass of wine. Also children often copy their parents when it comes to their attitudes towards alcohol. All parents can reduce the risk to their children, such as avoiding drinking alcohol on every occasion. Too many people are getting into trouble with alcohol. Potential hazards include an increased risk of falls and vehicular accidents, a decline in short-term memory, a worsening of existing health problems and interactions with medications that may diminish the effectiveness of some drugs and increase the toxic effects of others.
Nearly twice as many liquor stores, relatively cheap booze and a pricing system that effectively discounts drinks with more alcohol are contributing to a rise in hazardous drinking, says B.C.’s provincial health officer. The same is true in Alberta and other provinces. A 2003 study found that 79 per cent of youth in school reported drinking at least once by age 17, and 20 per cent of those reported binge drinking three or more days in the previous month. While booze prices have risen in recent years, they have not kept pace with other consumer goods, a trend likely to continue with more competition among stores. Kendall recommends that pricing should reflect alcohol content, with discounts for low-alcohol alternatives and a price premium for stronger drinks. Current pricing creates “clear price incentives for consumers to choose higher-strength alcohol products in all major beverage classes,” As of 2007, government liquor stores accounted for 39 per cent of B.C. sales, with private stores up to 33 per cent. Bars, clubs and restaurants served most of the remainder. B.C.’s biggest average booze consumption occurs in the Interior Health Authority region, which includes the Okanagan and Kootenay regions, at 11 litres of pure alcohol per person per year. Vancouver Island was second at 10.71 litres, and also had the largest increase, 15.2 per cent between 2002 and 2007. Northern Health region was third at 9.73 litres per person, followed by Vancouver Coastal at 8.61 and Fraser, the lowest at 7.03. The Central Coast region of Vancouver Coastal has the highest consumption in the province, 13.69 litres per person in 2007.
More drunk drivers, motorists are hitting the sauce before hitting the road this holiday season too. About 1 percent of the drivers stopped are charged with impaired driving offences during the generally only one month long Police province wide drunk drivers check stop campaigns . Sadly there are plenty more drivers who often still do drank like fish get away during the rest of the year due to the limited number of police officers participating in check stops the rest of the year. We do thus know that very few of the actual people who are impaired and on the roads are caught by police. ”The average person who is prepared to drive while impaired will do it about 80 times a year, repeat offenders causing the most problems.” “Drunk drivers are still; not getting the message, quite frankly, “The average blood-alcohol reading of those charged was .165, twice the legal limit of .08. The highest reading was .25, more than three times the limit, ” The drivers range between 19 and 59 years old. The average age is 35 but a dozen are over 40. (Older drivers) too seem to be more set in their habits and risk-takers also tend to be resistant to all education campaigns,” And during the same period over generally ten times more people now are being charged with failing to to wear seatbelts and Highway Traffic Act offences over impaired driving, even though it is drunk drivers, that causes many of the accidents? All now still Unsatisfactory.
In 2006, 232 Ontarians were killed in traffic accidents in which alcohol was a factor. “We’ve had an increased number of impaired driving fatalities in Ontario though we’re still seeing a downward trend in Ontario,” is still not enough policing here.
An Australian study estimates that about half of all traffic accidents in Australia may be due to road rage and most of the others related to alcohol, impaired driving and yet the police falsely tend to pursue revenue generating speeding traffic tickets still and why? Road rage is a relatively serious act; it can be seen as a violation of human and property rights , an endangerment of other’s personal well being, security.
Now I have said it for over 3 decades in writing to all too so now call it what you want but police services generally it is not about public safety, for it is a self employment, empire building, a false money grab, revenue generation, hidden taxes.. for if the cops, the mad RCMP were now really worried about public safety THEY WOULD FIRSTLY ARREST THEIR OWN KIND, THE BAD COPS WHO OFTEN DRIVE HOME DRUNK AFTER WORK, COMING HOME FROM THE POLICE TAVERN, and they would ALSO FIRSTLY go after the people who drive reckless, who fail to stop at the stop signs, or the traffic stop lights, and go seriously after the impaired drunken drivers, deal with the unsafe cars whose brakes are squealing cause they need to be repaired.. etc. Cops , civil and public servants too often become perverse persons, unacceptable bullies still too. You and I still do not have to accept such crap.
PS:
Study: Smoke-free laws may cut heart attack hospitalizations
CNN - 14 hours ago
By Miriam Falco ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) — Implementing smoke-free policies can lead to a fewer hospitalizations resulting from heart attacks, according to a new study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Study links smoking bans, heart attack rate Greeley Tribune
Our View: Smoking ban, one year later Northwest Herald
KKTV 11 News - The Associated Press - KDRV - Norman Transcript
all 460 news articles »
CNN - 14 hours ago
By Miriam Falco ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) — Implementing smoke-free policies can lead to a fewer hospitalizations resulting from heart attacks, according to a new study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Study links smoking bans, heart attack rate Greeley Tribune
Our View: Smoking ban, one year later Northwest Herald
KKTV 11 News - The Associated Press - KDRV - Norman Transcript
all 460 news articles »
see also http://stayinhealth.wordpress.com/2008/11/21/anti-suicide-watch/
(Gal 5:19 KJV) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Col 3:5 KJV) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Do see also http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/prime-minister-stephen-harper-let-me-repeat-myself/
