This week, November 12-17, 2017, is National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW); NAAW is a week that highlights the issues associated with alcohol and substance misuse and the solutions to help address them. Two new documents that provide an opportunity for Canadians to gain awareness about the impacts of alcohol misuse and how to bring forward solutions for change are: a) the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) statement highlighting the link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk¹ and, b) the release of the Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addiction’s (CCSA) status report, The National Alcohol Strategy Monitoring Project.²

ASCO’s statement draws much needed attention to the link between alcohol and cancer. The carcinogenic effects apply to all classifications of alcohol: beer, wine and spirits. The Canadian Cancer Society cautions that alcohol increases the risk of developing cancer of the breast, colon and rectum, esophagus, larynx, liver, mouth and pharynx.³ While even modest use of alcohol can increase cancer risk, the relationship between alcohol and cancer is generally dose dependent: the more you drink, the higher your risk is. However, it’s not only the amount you drink but the amount you drink regularly that increases cancer risk. For example, drinking 3.5 drinks a day can double or triple the risk of developing cancer of the mouth, pharynx, larynx and esophagus, and can increase the risk of colon, rectum and breast cancer by 1.5 times.³ In 2012, 5.5% of all new cancers and 5.8% of all cancer deaths globally were believed to be attributable to alcohol.¹  While the link between alcohol and cancer has previously been established, the endorsement of ASCO as a professional body reinforces the necessity of working towards a culture of moderation.  As public health professionals we can leverage this endorsement to help raise awareness and educate physicians and the public of the many harms associated with alcohol consumption.

The CCSA status report provides a framework through which the National Alcohol Strategy can be accomplished, highlighting four strategic areas: health promotion, prevention and education; health services; availability of alcohol and; safe communities.  This status report provides findings about progress that has been made towards the implementation of strategy recommendations and draws attention to informational gaps and variations in policy throughout Canadian jurisdictions that need to be addressed to achieve a coordinated and effective approach.  This document provides resources to work towards such a vision and highlights indicators for monitoring progress.² 

Both the ASCO statement and the CCSA status report urge us to work towards a culture of moderation and provide strategies or frameworks for how this can be done. Let’s start by raising awareness.
 
References
1. LoConte NK., Brewster AM., Kaur JS.,  Merrill JK., Alberg AJ., (2017). Alcohol and Cancer: a Statement of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 35. Retrieved 11/14/2017 from: http://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.2017.76.1155.
2 Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. (2017). The National Alcohol Strategy monitoring project: a status report. Ottawa, Ont.: Author.
3. Canadian Cancer Society. (2017). Alcohol. Retrieved 11/14/2017 from: http://www.cancer.ca/en/prevention-and-screening/live-well/alcohol/?region=on