Alcohol over-consumption causing alarming rates of hospitalization in Sask.

It’s a sobering statistic: more people are being sent to hospital because of alcohol over-consumption than for heart attacks, according to a report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).

“It’s a quiet epidemic. We take alcohol for granted, and we’re perhaps in a little bit of denial about some of the massive level of the harm it’s causing,” study consultant Tim Stockwell said.

“Hopefully this important report will be a wakeup call.”

According to CIHI, over 77,000 Canadians were hospitalized as a direct result of alcohol. Saskatchewan is 44 per cent above the national average.

“It is just the tip of the iceberg. This is 100 per cent hospitalizations caused by alcohol … it doesn’t include motor vehicle accidents, et cetera, so it’s a small piece of the alcohol harm,” Jean Harvey, director of the Canadian Population Health Initiative in CIHI, said.

“It is one of the top four reasons people come to our alcohol and drug out-patient services, so it historically has been one of the drugs, substances, that brings people to treatment first,” Kathy Willerth, Saskatchewan Health Ministry mental health and addictions director, said.

Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region (RQHR) is trying to reduce the number of alcohol-related hospitalizations through its addictions treatment programs, including detox.

“We have community-based organizations we contract with to provide a variety of other alcohol treatment services. We have outpatient treatment,” Michael Redenbach, RQHR vice president for Integrated Health Services said.

Saskatchewan was also flagged for having a low rate of physicians who speak to their patients about alcohol consumption.

“We would be absolutely encouraging that conversation to take place between a patient and a physician,” Willerth said.

Almost 80 per cent of Canadians drink, and most drink moderately, according to the report.

To reduce long term health risks, Canada’s guidelines say women shouldn’t exceed 10 drinks per week and no more than two on most days. Men should cap it at 15 drinks a week and three on most days.