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.