Support for harm-reduction among staff of specialized addiction treatment services in Ontario, Canada.

In a mail survey of staff of specialized addiction treatment services in Ontario, respondents from different types of services varied in their level of support for a variety of harm reduction initiatives. Across all types of services support was common for needle exchange services (82-95% in favour) and for short-term non-abstinence goals for clients with alcohol or drug problems (51-98% in favour). However, mean ratings for the effectiveness of methadone maintenance were negative or near zero, and only in assessment/referral and out-patient samples did the majority (61% in each case) have a positive view of methadone maintenance programmes.

Public perception of alcohol policy issues relating directly or indirectly to privatization: results from a 1999 Ontario survey.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to measure public opinion on alcohol policy issues relating to youth, litigation, outlet density, and government action. The authors comment on the implications of public opinion with regard to proposals for privatization of alcohol retailing in Ontario.

Method: Using data from a 1999 provincial survey (n = 1,288), the authors examine the opinions of Ontario adults (male and female over the age of 18) on seven alcohol policy-related items.

Beliefs about the cardiovascular benefits of drinking wine in the adult population of Ontario.

Aims: to explore beliefs about the cardiovascular benefits of drinking wine in the Ontario population.

Design: secondary analysis of data from a provincial survey of adults.

Participants: Ontarians aged 18 or older (n = 606) from Ontario living in households and participating in a telephone survey.

Who works in addictions treatment services? Some results from an Ontario survey.

This paper summarizes results from a survey of staff of specialized addiction treatment agencies in Ontario and includes information on demographic characteristics, education and related issues for those working in different types of agencies. Across all agencies 80% of staff had some sort of post secondary academic qualification and the majority reported taking professional development courses in the previous 12 months. However, only 20% of all respondents were "certified" as either an addictions counsellor or as another type of human service provider.

Alcohol use, alcohol disorders, and the use of health services: results from a population survey.

Data from a population survey were used to explore relationships among drinking levels/patterns, alcohol dependence or abuse, and the use of emergency services, hospital admissions, and frequent visits to general practitioners in the past year. For both males and females, self-reported hospital admissions were less common among daily moderate drinkers than among lifetime abstainers. Among males, drinkers with no history of alcohol dependence or abuse were less likely to report being in hospital in the last year than lifetime abstainers.