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.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom