Drink Alcohol and Die or Kill is fast becoming Canada’s preoccupation, main goal, slogan
MONTREAL — A 57-year-old Quebecer who racked up 20 charges for drunk driving was sentenced to life in jail after he hit and killed a woman last year.
More Canadians are trying to drink themselves to sleep, Quebec study finds Canwest News Service , 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
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 As a person who has regularly followed the related Canadian news stores, issues in regard to drunk driving, speeding, accidents, driver error it is VERY CLEAR TO ME THAT THE NEWS MEDIA SPIN for the major causes of the accidents, and also for the hidden tax, the need for more revenue generating traffic tickets, THEIR TRUTH VARIES FROM DAY TODAY AND CANNOT BE ACCEPTED AS BEING ANYTHING CLOSE TO THE TRUTH. Not even in Alberta. Why? Poor Journalism for a start, lying, incompetent politicians, policemen’s views too.
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? “
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.
Ironically I had even written recently that the Conservatives clearly are basically no different than the Liberals, and both have much too many alcoholics now as well..”
70 percent of Canadians drink alcohol, 15 percent Canadians are alcoholic, binge drinkers so of course alcohol is associated now with politics, Christian politicians as well..
Drinking alcohol cause permanent brain damage, it also causes a significant deterioration of one’s mental capabilities, deterioration of one’s inter personal relationship skills, it also causes more car accidents than speeding or not having adequate winter tires, it also reduces significantly one’s work productivity as well undeniably too. It has ruined many families as well. So do please tell us all now:
“when will mayor get serious with aggressive drivers and cyclists? ” Toronto mayor refuses comment on Bryant
Toronto police said Tuesday that a “magnitude” of charges were being considered following an apparent altercation that left a cyclist dead and a former high-profile Ontario cabinet minister reportedly in custody…. some witnesses also said the driver appeared to try to remove the cyclist by brushing up against trees and poles.
Now was alcohol now involved as well? was a Police breath analyzer used on Mr Bryant ?
An illustration sadly of what can happen when tempers escalate beyond the point of reason? Some say Take a brief moment to consider these events to determine what you will do if faced with a similar circumstance. Yes but what about a supposedly mature persons who has even a justice Minister. who clearly should have known much better and lead a more exemplary life now too.. Could he have done anything different? or did alcohol have a devious negative effect here too? Drug impaired driving, drunk driving, road age, driving incompetence, and car racing are still the main cause of the majority of all vehicle.. we already do know alcohol and road age is associated with over 40 percent of vehicular accidents..
Police say Sheppard, 33, grabbed onto a car following an altercation with the driver. They say the driver Mr. Bryant still drove way with Sheppard hanging on. Why did Bryant not rather stop? He Sheppard then next fell and suffered fatal injuries and dies one hour later. Sheppard’s girlfriend says he had been drinking the night he died. Misty Bailey said Sheppard was drunk when he visited her and he rested and slept, then insisted on going home. Bailey said she didn’t ask him to leave and would have loved for him to stay where she knew he’d be safe. Sheppard, at one point, was in the back of a police cruiser and she asked police to drive him home, but instead they let Sheppard go, she said. Police have said they responded to a call about Sheppard barely an hour before his death, but added there were no allegations of criminal activity. http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090902/national/bryant_cyclist_killed
Apparently alcohol was involved in Shepherd’s rage, acts, otherwise why would the girlfriend want the police to drive him home? likely confirms what I have said.. that we already do know alcohol and road age is associated with over 40 percent of vehicular accidents..
Two days after the Bloor Street collision that left a bike messenger dead, the girlfriend of Darcy Allan Sheppard is questioning why police allowed him to bicycle home in the first place. But after dozing intermittently, Mr. Sheppard insisted on bicycling back to his own apartment. Leaving Ms. Bailey’s, he was immediately apprehended by Toronto police, who were responding to a call of “unknown trouble” at the building. Mr. Sheppard was placed into the back of the police cruiser. For Ms. Bailey, this is where she last saw her boyfriend alive. It is also where she wishes he could have stayed, and that the police could have driven him all the way home in one piece. “I asked for the police to give him a ride home,” said Ms. Bailey, 34, adding that her friends also made similar requests. “They said ‘No, he’s going to [take] himself home.” Shortly afterward, Mr. Sheppard was killed in a collision with a black Saab convertible on Bloor Street West, just east of Avenue Road. Former attorney-general Michael Bryant has been charged in connection with the death. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/girlfriend-of-dead-cyclist-questions-police-refusal-to-drive-him-home/article1273891/
The police themselves are not off the hook in these matters… and are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea as well.. DAMMED IF THEY DO AND DAMMED IF THEY DO NOT CHARGE BRYANT
Toronto Police are being criticized for their perceived special treatment of Michael Bryant. The former Attorney General was charged with the death of a cyclist and taken into custody Monday night. By the time Bryant held a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, he was wearing a fresh, clean suit that had been dropped off at the station. And he never appeared in bail court. Instead, Bryant was released and will face a judge for the first time on October 19. That sparked prominent defence lawyer Edward Sapiano to say that anyone else, aside from a police officer or politician, would have been forced to show up in bail court unshaven and dishevelled. http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/56895–cops-criticized-for-perceived-special-treatment-of-michael-bryant
Michael Bryant, who once appointed judges and oversaw Crown prosecutors, has now suddenly found himself on the opposite side of the judicial system, accused of criminal negligence causing death and dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death in the altercation involving Darcy Allan Sheppard. Now his career and reputation have been severely damaged already as a result too so Bryant is supposedly trying to buy his way out of it by hiring the best PR, lawyers too. Reminds me of the OJ Simpson fiasco.Rich and Powerful Michael Bryant has hired the best PR, Lawyers, Spin doctors to try to clean up his tarnished image, to falsely deny he killed someone too.
This guy should clearly not be driving, and yes, I would consider him a danger to the public based on the eyewitnesses’ accounts. Do the police have any proof that Bryant was not drinking? I have not heard that a breathalyser was administered to Bryant, or about whether there was alcohol purchased at the restaurant where he was celebrating. It sounds as though police are simply taking him at his word. That is insane, given the outrageous manner in which he was allegedly driving. And if he wasn’t drinking, then there is something seriously wrong with him. He needed to stop his vehicle after allegedly hitting Sheppard, and he needed to stop his vehicle when Sheppard held on to his vehicle. Nobody in their right mind would accelerate under those conditions – particularly when there were bystanders who could help him if he felt he was in danger. I’m just wondering how Bryant, and his PR firm have spun the story so that the guy who allegedly hit a person on a bike, and used his vehicle as a weapon is now being depicted as a “victim” who was terrorized – I think it is more accurate to say that if you hit a person/cyclist, then try to knock them away when they are trying to stop you from leaving – that is terrorizing someone. I keep reading posts with people saying that if someone held onto their car, they would accelerate (up to 90km/hr into oncoming traffic?) – that’s safe?.( that is murderous).. I try to imagine someone calm, like my mom yelling at a cyclist, then nudging them with her car and driviing away (hit and run?), then when the person is holding on (after being allegedly assaulted..), driving her vehicle in such a way as to remove the person in any way possible. It’s just not reasonable. Apply the brake, apologize for hitting the person while on their bike, and say sorry. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/09/04/bryant-conditions.html#
Now also we have more revelation in Sept 2009 of alcohol abuse in Ontario too And why did it take so long to investigate and take action when this was brought out before in the past?
The “culture of entitlement” at the lottery corporation appears to be a deep-rooted problem that will not be solved by the new procedures put in place by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, said Kevin Gaudet, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
Under the new Ontario Government rules revealed this month , employees with unacceptable expense claims such as alcohol for staff functions and personal items must repay the taxpayers. McGuinty’s move follows the revelations employees at Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp expensed items such as a $3,713.77 dinner for 38 people that included more than 10 bottles of wine and other alcohol. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.’s 10 highest-paid employees expensed at least $2,533 on alcohol between January, 2007, and December, 2008. A sales and marketing meeting at the Keg resulted in a $260 liquor tab; 38 people at a pre- Sound of Music business dinner drank $885 worth of alcoholic beverages. Any hospitality event at which alcohol was served would have to receive prior approval. The same provincial public-service rules also require written approval before all out-of-province travel, rarely evident in the documents the province made public this week. It all now still reveals a culture of acceptability that is inappropriate in a recession and in any Crown environment. The past provincial directive, which has been in place since 2004, states that “reimbursement of meal costs must not include the reimbursement for any alcoholic beverages.” The Ontario Liberals have also ordered a review of the 600 provincial agencies, boards and commissions to root out spending abuses. New Democrat Leader Andrea Horwath said the added layer of scrutiny doesn’t assuage concerns about widespread illicit spending among government agencies. NOW WHAT ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?
(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:
Alberta drug and alcohol deaths have doubled in the past decade Edmonton Sun CALGARY — The number of recorded drug and alcohol deaths in Alberta has more than doubled in the past decade, says the province’s chief medical examiner. From 1998 to 2008, Alberta’s population has grown by only 13% while the annual number of non-suicide deaths attributable to intoxicants has leaped to 437 from 210. Kim Borden, research officer with the chief medical examiner’s office, was at a loss to explain why the number would so far exceed the province’s population increase. “But I do know drugs and drug-related deaths are a huge problem — it’s right up there with car crash fatalities,” she said. “It’s growing every year.” , the figures for deaths caused by drugs are likely much higher because the number of autopsies are so limited.
So vehicular speeding is not the major cause of accidents, deaths but impaired driving and yet the police like to go after speeders, over the drunk drivers still and why was that?
It is not the rapists, drunk drivers that mostly fill the courts calendars, docks it is mostly the revenue generating traffic tickets.. if the government wants to get tough on crime, as it purports, it should go after the real criminals. Drunk, impaired drivers too. After all speeding is not the major cause of vehicular accidents, what you did not know that yet? and the police Chief himself did not tell you? What is then the cause of major car accidents? Drunk driving, road rage, impaired driving, distracted while driving…. and what the revenue generating traffic division has not gone after all this mostly instead yet too? and why Not? The Cops becoming judge and jury, now taking the law into their own hands even when they still say “ In most cases, our cops are the best to judge if stunt driving is really stunt driving. Or, is it simply speeding. If that is the case, they should charge accordingly or face more legal challenges.” And them the cops still being continually soft on drunk drivers is cause too many cops do drink alcohol now too? http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com/2009/09/10/speeding-is-not-the-major-cause-of-car-accidents-still/
BC alcohol revenues provide the government with $1 billion annually. But health and enforcement costs related to alcohol were $57 million higher than revenue generated by alcohol sales. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/736962–b-c-pays-deadly-cost-to-fill-thirst-for-booze
VICTORIA — Alcohol consumption has increased almost twice as much in British Columbia as it has in the rest of the country, according to a new study. Researchers at the University of Victoria Centre for Addictions Research say British Columbians’ alcohol consumption has risen 16 per cent since 1998. That’s almost twice the nine per cent increase seen in the rest of Canada. http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Drinking+rises+faster+than+rest+Canada/2322114/story.html
and if that is true now there should be twice as much arrests for drunk driving and twice as much prison incarceration for drunk driving too? is there or why not?
Saskatchewan has introduced the toughest repeat drunk-driving sentencing policy in Canada, just in time for the holiday party season. As of Friday in Saskatchewan, there will be a minimum mandatory 30-day jail sentence for repeat offenders who have had one prior conviction in the past five years or two convictions in the past ten years. Further, if a convicted drunk driver has two convictions in the past five years or three in the past ten years, the mandatory jail sentence will be 120 days. These sentences will be more severe if the drunk driving offences have caused bodily harm or if the offender is found to be driving while disqualified. http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/12/09/12098391.html
Do see also
It has always confounded me as to why the liars, crooks, deceivers, abusers, alcolholics, drug addicts too often do still do think they can get away with now, next and forever.
FOR WE TEND TO KNOW THAT THEY THE CROOKS, ABUSERS TOO, NOW ARE NOT ABOUT TO STOP THEIR WRONG DOINGS. RATHER THEY WILL NEXT EVEN ESCALATE, CONTINUE IN THEM. AND THAT IS ANOTHER VALID REASON THEY DO NEED TO BE EXPOSED, PROSECUTED AND STOPPED. EVEN FOR THE GOOD OF US ALL.
Off-duty RCMP officer faces impaired charge following crash in …The Canadian Press - VANCOUVER, BC – An off-duty BC RCMP officer is facing charges of impaired driving following a crash in east Vancouver. Sgt. Tim Shields says the incident happened early Saturday morning and the officer has been re-assigned to administrative duties …
Two Mounties accused of drunk driving Winnipeg Sun
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AND THEY ARE STILL ALLOWED TO HOLD THEIR JOBS?
