Pubdate: Sat, 25 Aug 2007 Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN) Copyright: 2007 The Leader-Post Ltd. Contact: http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361 SAD STATISTICS As if to reinforce the unwelcome news that Saskatchewan leads the country in alcohol- and drug-use problems, a huge pot bust involving almost 1,300 marijuana plants made headlines the same day. It's no surprise that the province known for being high on crime is also high on legal and illegal substances -- the two often go hand in hand. But it is disappointing to learn that after several years of a strong economy and plenty of jobs that Saskatchewan can't seem to shake its image as a place beset by serious social problems. The figures are disturbing: Researchers with the Ontario-based Centre for Addiction and Mental Health found Saskatchewan has a much higher prevalence of alcohol and drug problems (16 per cent), compared with the national average of 11 per cent. It's of small comfort to know that the province is only narrowly ahead of the rest of Western Canada on this issue -- when you're No. 1, the label sticks. The study, based on Statistics Canada data, makes some interesting observations: Alcohol tends to be a bigger problem than drugs in rural Canada and being a young male is "strongly related to most indicators of drug and alcohol use, problems and dependence." Further, the study notes other recent research suggests Western Canada has higher rates of other psychiatric disorders and crime than provinces like Quebec and Ontario, which have the lowest rates of substance-related problems. When looking for underlying causes, consider this: Saskatchewan has more than 13 per cent of the total aboriginal (First Nations and Metis) population of Canada, ranking first or second with Manitoba on a per-capita basis. More than a century of cultural dislocation, including the terrible legacy of the residential school system, is still being felt and it has long been known that First Nations people suffer disproportionate levels of poverty, crime and addictions. The study notes that people with a post-secondary diploma have lower odds of acquiring substance-use problems than those with a high school education. Again, fewer than half of our aboriginal students even complete Grade 12. With many growing up in homes blighted by poverty, addictions, violence and hunger, is it any surprise the cycle repeats itself? As many have said, getting an education hugely increases the likelihood of living a happy, productive life. Alcohol and drug abuse virtually guarantee the opposite. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom