Dufferin Alcohol Stories
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Guelph and Wellington Alcohol Stories
Alcohol's Impact
| Alcohol use, even at moderate levels, can cause many immediate and long-term medical issues:
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| Hundreds of hospital visits each year in Guelph, Wellington and Dufferin counties are directly linked with alcohol use, causing great pain and suffering for victims and families, as well as a burden on our healthcare system. |
| Alcohol use impairs decision-making and motor control leading to riskier behaviours and negatives outcomes such as violence, risk-taking and injury. |
| Alcohol use has a serious effect on the wellbeing of families in our community. Approximately 35% of domestic violence cases are linked to alcohol use. |
| Police deal with many alcohol-related incidents in our community and on our roads, many with serious consequences. Nearly 25% of driving fatalities are related to alcohol. |
| Many young adults experience negative consequences from drinking alcohol, including hangovers, violence and poor academic performance. |
| Alcohol use often creates issues for municipalities and property owners, including noise, litter, vandalism and the destruction of property. |
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| Alcohol use can come at a high personal cost and can impact many areas of a person’s life from hangovers, to long-term health issues, to violence and poor academic performance. |
| Alcohol use affects memory and other brain functions and can lead to impaired work functioning and poor academic performance. |
Getting Help
About Us
Alcohol is everywhere. We find it in grocery stores, at farmer’s markets, the LCBO and countless bars and restaurants. We are constantly bombarded by advertising about the latest novelty beverage or craft brew. Marketing campaigns always highlight the positive aspects of drinking alcohol – having fun, celebrating, connecting with friends or enjoying a cold drink on a hot day.
In reality, there is another side to the story. Alcohol has a profound impact on people and communities. Alcohol puts more Canadians in the hospital than heart attacks. It can lead to injuries, disease, family issues, legal problems and financial concerns. It contributes to crime, violence, vandalism and community disruption. Every year, alcohol strains our local healthcare, justice, and municipal resources. We don’t often talk about these issues. Locally, residents of Guelph, Dufferin County and Wellington County are more likely to drink in a high-risk way than the rest of Ontarians.
LAST CALL – Real Stories about Alcohol’s Impact in Guelph, Wellington and Dufferin counties aims to start a conversation about the ways alcohol causes harm in our communities. We talked with a diverse group of community members about their perspectives on alcohol-related harms in Guelph, Wellington and Dufferin counties. We heard stories about personal, health, family, professional and financial impacts of alcohol use. When you start to add up the harms, the real cost of alcohol may surprise you.
The Guelph and Wellington campaign was an initiative of the Alcohol Harm Prevention Working Group of the Wellington Drug Strategy that was supported by Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health. The Dufferin campaign was launched by Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health as an extension of the original campaign.