KNOW WHEN TO QUIT

With crystal meth, cocaine and heroin abuse and huge multi-million-
dollar marijuana busts regularly making headlines, it's easy to
overlook the most abused drug -- alcohol.

While many people enjoy a responsible social tipple, others die or
are injured because they drive while impaired and some miss work with
hangovers. Saskatchewan Health estimates alcohol costs the provincial
economy more than $500 million a year "in lost productivity,
absenteeism and disability."

Saskatchewan Health's latest concern is "binge drinking" -- the
consumption of five or more drinks by men or four or more drinks by
women at a single sitting.

The provincial health department says a recent survey of 499 young
adults between 18 and 29 in the province produced some alarming results:

- - Nearly 30 per cent had consumed more than five drinks on at least
one occasion and 40.5 per cent had consumed more than 10 drinks on at
least one occasion in the past year.

- - At least once in the past year, 27.4 per cent were unable to
remember events of the previous night due to drinking.

- - 14.6 per cent said their drinking had resulted in someone being
physically injured in the past year.

- - 21.2 per cent had been in arguments with family or friends in the
past year due to drinking.

A bad hangover is the least binge drinkers can expect; some black out
or even die from excess alcohol consumption.

Long-term binge drinkers can suffer permanent brain and liver damage,
develop ulcers and ruin close relationships. Some commit crimes while
intoxicated.

With alcohol "embedded in today's social scene", Healthy Living
Services Minister

Graham Addley has launched a campaign "to begin to change attitudes
about the use and abuse of alcohol". Addley hopes TV and newspaper
ads, and posters in restaurant and bar washrooms will get young
people thinking about the perils of binge drinking.

The government is taking a welcome proactive step on a serious issue
other jurisdictions are struggling with. Research in the UK, for
example suggests almost a quarter of adults are binge drinkers.

This is not about trying to ruin anyone's party. Because alcohol is
socially accepted, it's easy to forget it is a potent drug that has
the potential to wreck lives if misused.