Data from CAMP shows alcohol-related emergency rooms visits are decreasing. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

alcohol moderation

Alcohol-related emergency room visits decreasing in La Ronge: CAMP

Jun 7, 2019 | 4:11 PM

Visits associated with alcohol to the emergency room at the La Ronge Health Centre are decreasing for people 16 years and older.

The data was revealed in a Lac La Ronge Region Community Alcohol Management Plan (CAMP) update supplied to the media Friday. Comparing the months of November 2017 and March 2019 for emergency room visits, the data shows alcohol-related visits for males dropped from 29 per cent to 26 per cent and for females it declined 19 per cent to 15 per cent. The greatest impact was between the ages of 16 and 24 with the percentage of alcohol-related visits going down from 27 per cent to 18 per cent.

“That was good to see in that young population having an impact in the reduced rates,” Dr. James Irvine, who compiles information for CAMP, said. “We had heard from family doctors and nurses who work in the emergency department and others that they had a sense there was some decreasing number of clients coming in with alcohol-related conditions.”

The update also included data about the number of visits for unintended injuries associated with alcohol such as falls and motor vehicle crashes, which showed a decrease from 72 per cent to 59 per cent. Overall, Irvine stated those decreases equal out to about 220 less emergency room visit per year or close to 140 fewer people injured enough they need to go to the hospital.

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As for choosing November 2017 and March 2019 to compare data instead of year-over-year, Irvine noted November 2017 is about the time work with CAMP began, adding both months have winter-like weather conditions in the region. While emergency rooms visits are also busier on the weekends and on paydays, he mentioned there’s not much of an impact during long weekends, which one month has and the other doesn’t.

“A lot of the effort from various agencies within the community are working on moderation of alcohol and working at reducing some of the harmful effects of alcohol could be beneficial in enhancing this improvement in statistics,” Irvine said.

There was also information in the update regarding a 17 per cent decrease of alcohol-related RCMP calls for service between 2017 and 2018. Data received by larongeNOW from the La Ronge RCMP, however, has shown a 15 per cent increase in alcohol-related calls comparing January to May 2018 and January to May 2019. Irvine stated CAMP will work with the RCMP to find out what the discrepancy means.

“Does it mean people are more willing to call for support from the RCMP because of some of the outreach work?” he said. “Or is it a sign that there are more issues occurring? It’s hard to draw those conclusions and this is where I think it is good to look at a variety of different data sources.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno