Dry January is a campaign that encourages individuals to abstain from drinking alcohol for the month of January. This is a popular movement that has been growing in popularity since its inception in 2013. Proponents of the campaign claim that abstaining from alcohol has numerous health benefits, including weight loss, improved sleep quality and a reduction in stress levels.
Furthermore, research suggests that taking a month-long break from drinking can help reduce problem drinking later in life. An estimated one-third of participants who took part in Dry January reported reduced alcohol consumption across all months following completion of the challenge.
The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction recently changed their weekly alcohol consumption recommendation from 15 drinks a week to just two, with research showing that drinking too much increases your risk of developing certain types of cancer.
In terms of economic impact, there has been an increase in revenue generated from non-alcoholic beverages such as coffee and tea during the month-long challenge — suggesting that people are looking for other options when it comes to socializing without alcohol. Additionally, grocery stores tend to experience an increase in sales during this time due to more individuals taking part in meal planning activities instead of relying heavily on takeout meals or restaurants while they are not having alcoholic drinks at home or out with friends.
Substance abuse is a growing problem in Canada, and one that has far-reaching impacts not only on individuals, but on society as a whole. It affects people of all ages, genders and backgrounds, and can be caused by a variety of factors including stress, peer pressure, mental health issues or even genetics. It is important to understand the full scope of substance abuse in Canada so we can work together to reduce its prevalence.
Interior Health has many resources available to those who are directly impacted in substance abuse. If you are concerned about a loved one, or looking for resources yourself, we recommend visiting https://www.interiorhealth.ca/locations/kelowna-mental-health-substance-use.
