Alcohol has been identified as Canada’s most dangerous drug, according to a study released Jan. 27 by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
The study, conducted by 22 experts, ranked various substances across 16 categories of harm. These included physical and mental harms such as damage to health, death and dependence, as well as social harms like family and social adversity and overall economic cost. Alcohol was identified as the most harmful drug due to the damage it causes to the body and because of its accessibility and widespread use.
College students are part of the generation consuming alcohol at the highest rates, raising the question of whether the findings would prompt them to reconsider their drinking habits.
Fanshawe student Garrett Glover was asked whether the study would influence his alcohol consumption.
“No, absolutely not,” Glover said.
“You’re young. You have to have fun at some point, right? You can stop drinking beer when you’re older, but not at 20.”
Glover was not alone in his view. Another Fanshawe student, Chris Kurdy, also said the study would not lead him to stop drinking.
“No, I’m just going to keep drinking,” Kurdy said.
“Because, to be honest, I don’t believe that. I think there are a lot worse drugs out on the streets.”
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02698811251409147
Alcohol received the highest overall harm score of 79, followed by tobacco at 45, non-prescription opioids at 33, cocaine and methamphetamine at 19, and cannabis at 15.
