Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Alcohol is the intoxicating chemical in beer, wine and spirits. It is a little harder to find drugs, but one definition is a narcotic, hallucinogen or stimulant, especially one causing addiction. Of course, besides their misuse as intoxicants, alcohol and drugs have many other uses in our society including medicines and painkillers.
The sale of alcohol alone brings very good money to this government. In 2011 liquor sales topped $45 million. Of that, more than $28 million was profit. Mr. Speaker, $45 million in sales is more than $1,000 per man, woman and child in this territory.
Of course, it is illegal to sell alcohol to young people, but we know that many of them drink anyway. It is safe to say that the fuel for many of the worst problems we have in our territory comes from our government’s liquor sales.
We know that more than 85 percent of crime is alcohol or drug-related. Those cases choke our courts and fill our jails. Alcohol is a factor in more than half of our accidental deaths. More than 35 percent of our population reports drinking to excess at least once a month, a rate that is more than double Canada.
It is impossible to put a dollar value on the impact of alcohol and drug abuse on the health of our people, let alone the costs to our health system. However, roughly 15 percent of hospitalizations are due to mental health and addictions.
Alcohol use and abuse is also a complicated factor in many other conditions such as diabetes. We have seen that it is not easy to quit drinking or break free from addictive drugs, but we have also seen it can be done with determination and the right kind of help. I am concerned that it is very difficult to get the help in most of our communities. There is almost no detox available. They are waiting to get into treatment. Some treatment is only available down south. There is not enough support for those who complete treatment and return home.
The new Mental Health and Addictions Strategy is a step in the right direction, but I wonder if it will be funded properly. Maybe we should use some of the liquor revenue. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
