ADDICTION FIGURES STUN COMMISSION

Premier's Admission Fuels Awareness

A staggering 450 new clients seek addictions counselling each month in
Calgary and 75 per cent of those people are alcoholics, says the Alberta
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission.

The figure has more than doubled in five years and continues to climb as
the city's population surges.

In March, a record 512 new clients with gambling, drug or alcohol
addictions sought counselling and treatment from the AADAC in Calgary.

Of those, 384 are booze dependent, said Karen Hala, the commission's
manager of counselling and prevention services.

"It is huge in terms of the numbers we're coping with. And we've continued
to see an increase over the past two to three years.

"When we hit the 512 mark, I thought 'whoa' and we've gone over the 500
mark a few times since. Before that, we've never, ever seen numbers that high."

AADAC is funded by the province to help Albertans achieve lives free from
the abuse of alcohol, drugs and gambling.

The agency promotes well-being through social, emotional, spiritual and
physical resources and provides cost-effective, holistic alternatives

to hospital-based and medical services.

Each year, more than 30,000 treatment admissions, 70,000 shelter admissions
and 120,000 prevention and education contacts are delivered to Albertans at
a cost of $35.4 million.

Currently, 1,238 alcoholics per month attend one or more of 800 individual
addictions counselling sessions in Calgary.

Of the alcoholics treated each month, ranging in age from 18 to 92 years of
age, 67 to 72 per cent are successful in making major life changes,
although it often takes more than one attempt before a client is
successful, said Hala.

She said Premier Ralph Klein's admission that he's battled the bottle for
30 years will raise awareness of the disease and may inspire others to come
forward or get help.

"It may inspire others to take a look at their lifestyle and determine
whether or not an addiction is causing a problem in their lives," Hala said.

"But just because someone high-profile is doing it, doesn't mean a person
is going to take that as inspiration.

"It might be just the opposite.

"A person might think (Klein's) got a lot more resources or can handle it
differently."

The latest AADAC figures indicate 10 per cent of the population has an
addiction.

Hala said much of the reason for the increase in numbers can be attributed
to public awareness and population increase.

The most recent statistics indicate 63 people move to Calgary each day.

"That and there's less of a stigma now, especially for seniors, to come
forward," she said.

"The older generation were more reluctant to seek public assistance,
everything was kept in secret.

"That has certainly changed," said Hala.

Facts on alcohol in Alberta

- - Provincial revenue from alcohol sales totalled $456 million in 1999-2000

- - 77 per cent of Albertans average 3.5 drinks per week

- - Per capita consumption in Alberta -- at 8.6 litres of absolute alcohol --
is higher than the national average of 7.6 litres for persons age 15 and older

(8.6 litres of absolute alcohol equals either 506 bottles of beer, 100
bottles of wine or 29 bottles of distilled spirits).

- - The social and economic costs of alcohol use amount to $749 million

- - 12,274 Albertans age 16 and older were charged with impaired driving in
1999. Alberta has consistently had the highest offence rates for impaired
driving among provinces.

Source: AADAC

Do You Have A Drinking Problem?

1. Have you ever decided to stop drinking for a week or so, but only lasted
for a couple of days?

2. Do you wish that people would just mind their own business about your
drinking -- stop telling you what to do?

3. Have you ever switched from one kind of drink to another in the hope
that this would keep you from getting drunk?

4. Have you had to have an eye-opener upon awakening during the past year?

5. Do you envy people who can drink without getting into trouble?

6. Have you had problems connected with drinking during the past year?

7. Has your drinking caused trouble at home?

8. Do you ever try to get "extra" drinks at a party because you do not get
enough?

9. Do you tell yourself you can stop drinking any time you want to, even
though you keep getting drunk when you don't mean to?

10. Have you missed days of work or school because of drinking?

11. Do you have blackouts?

12. Have you ever felt that your life would be better if you did not drink?

What's your score?

Did you answer yes four or more times? If so, you are probably in trouble
with alcohol. Why do we say this? Because thousands of people in Alcoholics
Anonymous have said so for many years. They found out the truth about
themselves -- the hard way.