NEW DATA: alcohol-attributed deaths spiked during lockdowns

A new Statistic Canada report published Friday shows the number of people who died due to alcohol use reached "new highs." Fatalities tallied as booze-related include alcoholic liver disease, accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol, and finding alcohol in the blood autopsy.

In 2019, there were 3,200 deaths related to alcohol. In 2020, the count jumped to 3,790. In 2021, there were 3,875 alcohol-related deaths.

The increase, 18% year-over-year- from 2019 to 2022, was the highest in 20 years.

"These are large increases, particularly [because] these numbers tend to be relatively static," Dr. Timothy Naimi, director of the University of Victoria's Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and professor at the university's School of Public Health and Social Policy, told CBC.

"Having said that, it's not surprising. We know that alcohol consumption has gone up, although not by the degree with how deaths have."

Opioid deaths also sky-rocketed in Alberta during the height of the lockdowns, often exceeding covid-attributed fatalities.

Sheila Gunn Reid

Chief Reporter

Sheila Gunn Reid is the Alberta Bureau Chief for Rebel News and host of the weekly The Gunn Show with Sheila Gunn Reid. She's a mother of three, conservative activist, and the author of best-selling books including Stop Notley.

COMMENTS

Be the first to comment

Please check your e-mail for a link to activate your account.