WHEREAS abuse of alcohol contributes to a wide range of social ills in the province of British Columbia, costing the province approximately 2.2 billion or 536 per person, the highest per capita cost in Canada; AND WHEREAS alcohol abuse is a contributing cause of 25 of all fatal motor vehicle accidents and 30 per cent of all criminal activity in BC, and contributes to the development of cancers, liver disease, heart disease, mental illness, fetal alcohol syndrome and homelessness: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM join the BC Coalition for Action on Alcohol Reform in lobbying for the development of a provincial alcohol reduction strategy that may include some or all of the recommendations made by the Centre for Addictions Research and Dr. Perry Kendall to reduce the public safety and health concerns associated with problematic alcohol use in our society.
Ministry of Health Addressing hazardous use of alcohol is an important component of governments healthy living agenda. The Ministry of Health is leading a cross-government approach to reduce chronic disease and improve health outcomes for families and individuals in BC, which includes the recent launch of a new tool to help physicians screen and provide brief interventions to prevent and reduce the harms associated with hazardous drinking. Public consultations during development of Healthy Minds, Healthy People: A Ten-year Plan to Address Mental Health and Substance Use in British Columbia also highlighted the importance of a whole-of-government response to the public safety and health costs associated with problematic alcohol use. Two of the six milestones for achievement outlined in Healthy Minds, Healthy People relate to alcohol: - Milestone 3: By 2014, 10 percent fewer BC students will first use alcohol or cannabis before the age of 15. - Milestone 4: The proportion of British Columbians 15 years of age or older who engage in hazardous drinking will be reduced by 10 percent by 2015. Healthy Minds, Healthy People was released in November 2010, and work is now underway across partner ministries to implement the alcohol-related actions contained in the plan, including Canadas toughest impaired driving laws. BCs Healthy Start program, announced June 7, 2011, will offer infants and their parents supports and tools to foster healthy child development and build parental life-skills that help families thrive over the long-term. There is strong evidence that targeted services and supports for vulnerable mothers and their infants can have a life-long impact in reducing future problems with alcohol and other substances.