Chris Puglia
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 02/02) - Deaths resulting from alcohol use have risen 13 per cent in the past three years, according to the NWT coroner's latest report.

Alcohol deaths are rising across the North and communities are desperately searching for solutions to bring people out of the bottle and begin saving lives. - Merle Robillard/NNSL photo illustration Bottom of the Bottle NWT chief coroner Percy Kinney provides these facts on drinking deaths in the NWT last year: -58 per cent of accidental deaths were alcohol-related. -One of the three motor vehicle collision deaths were due to alcohol. -Three cases of ethanol toxicity (people drank themselves to death). -One case of a person drowned in their own vomit. -One person died of alcohol withdrawal. -Two of four homicides were alcohol-related. -The exact number is un-known, but some of the 10 suicides in 2001 resulted from alcohol. -Deaths due to substance abuse have been steadily increasing for three years.

"I'm quite confident that if you look at alcohol-related deaths in other jurisdictions half of them won't be alcohol-related," said Percy Kinney. "It's a big waste."

In 1999, alcohol contributed to 45 per cent of accidental deaths in the NWT. Two years later it hit 58 per cent. "In all these deaths, if alcohol wasn't there, they probably wouldn't have happened," Kinney said. "It suggests that our accidental death rate due to alcohol is extremely high due to people engaging in high-risk behaviour."

Kinney said the numbers are alarming but aren't getting the attention they deserve.

"If I told you 12 people died of the West Nile virus that would be front page. But I tell you 12 people died of alcohol and it's dismissed. It's so ingrained in our society." he said.

The number of alcohol-related deaths is actually higher than what is indicated in the accidental death rate. Kinney said a number of violent, natural and self-inflicted deaths are also associated with alcohol.

Typically, the coroner's office makes recommendations based on its findings to prevent similar incidents from occurring.

In terms of alcohol-related deaths making recommendations is complicated. "I can't stop them from drinking. We can better educate them, but we can't legislate against drinking," he said. "We can arm them with information so they know the risks of over-consumption and they can go out and make an informed decision."

Northerners combating substance abuse

Communities in the North have battled with the problems associated with alcohol abuse for decades. Violence, suicide and a host of other problems have all been associated to substance abuse.

In the community of Rae, alcohol is a significant problem. Donna Broemeling, acting nurse in charge at the health centre, said alcohol in the community has been linked to a number of problems. "There are a lot of assaults, domestic assaults, MVAs (motor-vehicle accidents) and snowmachine accidents," she said.

Broemeling added that there are a number of social problems in the community due to alcohol. "In Rae -- that is supposed to be a limited-alcohol community -- it is a significant problem," she said. "A lot of people are sent out for treatment, with varying success."

Those patients are usually sent south to Edmonton, Calgary or Winnipeg, especially patients in their early teens. "A treatment centre in the North would be a benefit," said Broemeling, adding that very few patients are sent to Hay River.

The community does have programs in place to combat the problem. The RCMP do liquor checks periodically and counselling is available through the health unit.

The community of Paulatuk has been fighting for liquor restrictions since 200. A plebiscite was held two years ago to put the restrictions in place, but it was defeated. Back in May another petition was submitted, lobbying for another vote.

An example of how eliminating alcohol can decrease community problems was demonstrated in Panniqtuuq back during Christmas. There the RCMP stepped up bootlegging investigations over Christmas and seized 51 bottles of liquor. Complaints to police dropped dramatically, and no liquor-related complaints were reported at all. The season before, when police seized only a small amount, they were plagued with complaints.

Education available

There are a number of organizations helping expose the dangers of alcohol, support those with addictions and promote positive living. The DARE program offered through the RCMP educates children on the danger of drugs and alcohol, and helps them make informed decisions.

There are counselling and outpatient services at the Tree of Peace in and the YWCA in Yellowknife, and the Salvation Army provides withdrawal services for individuals trying to manage their addictions.

Referrals to counselling and detox programs can be accessed through community public health offices, and the Alcohol Anonymous program helps support people with alcohol problems. But the North now only has one detox program since two detoxification centres in Yellowknife were closed a few years ago.

"Whether we're seeing the results of that now I can't say," said Kinney.

"We shouldn't be focusing on alcohol and drugs, we should be focusing on some of the issues that lead to people using alcohol and drugs to cope with their problems," said Les Harrison, director of community and family services with the Department of Health and Social Services.