Catherine Paradis - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Catherine Paradis

BMC Public Health, 2021

Background Multiple survey reports suggest that alcohol use has increased in Canada during the CO... more Background Multiple survey reports suggest that alcohol use has increased in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, less is known about how per capita alcohol sales, which predict population-level alcohol use, have changed and whether changes in alcohol sales differ from changes in sales of other products due to pandemic factors. Methods We obtained monthly retail sales data by industry from Statistics Canada, for the six largest provinces in Canada (containing 93% of the national population), between January 2010 and November 2020, representing time before and 9 months after the start of the pandemic in Canada. We used an interrupted time series analysis to estimate pandemic impacts on the dollar value of monthly per capita (per individuals 15+ years) alcohol, essential and non-essential retail sales. We adjusted our analyses for pre-pandemic sales trends, inflation, seasonality and changing population demographics over time. Results During the first 9 months of the pandemic...

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, provincial and territorial governments have designated liquor stores ... more Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, provincial and territorial governments have designated liquor stores as essential businesses permitted to stay open. This brief report will highlight some of the risks associated with keeping liquor stores open during the pandemic and the potential risks of closing these stores. It is intended for government officials, policy makers, researchers and journalists.

Drug and Alcohol Review, 2019

Ce document est également disponible en français sous le titre : L'alcool et la santé au Canada: ... more Ce document est également disponible en français sous le titre : L'alcool et la santé au Canada: résumé des données probantes et directives de consommation à faible risque

Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs

Objective: Alcohol labels are one strategy for communicating health information to consumers. Thi... more Objective: Alcohol labels are one strategy for communicating health information to consumers. This study tested the extent to which consumers recalled alcohol labels with national drinking guidelines and examined the impact of labels on awareness and knowledge of the guidelines. Method: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in two jurisdictions in northern Canada examining the impact of labels on the following outcomes: unprompted and prompted recall of the drinking guideline label message, awareness of the drinking guidelines, and knowledge of the daily and weekly recommended drink limits. The intervention site applied labels with national drinking guidelines, a cancer warning, and standard drink information to alcohol containers in its liquor store, whereas the comparison site did not apply these labels. In total, 2,049 cohort participants in both sites were recruited to complete surveys before and at two time points after the intervention. Changes in outcomes were examined using generalized estimating equations. Results: After the intervention, unprompted and prompted recall of the drinking guideline label message increased more in the intervention versus comparison site (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 10.8, 95% CI [0.9, 127.6]; AOR = 7.0, 95% CI [3.3, 14.9], respectively). Awareness of the drinking guidelines increased 2.9 times more in the intervention versus comparison site (AOR = 2.9, 95% CI [2.0, 4.3]). In addition, knowledge of the daily and weekly drink limits increased 1.5 and 1.4 times more in the intervention versus comparison site, respectively (daily: AOR = 1.5, 95% CI [1.0, 2.1]; weekly: AOR = 1.4, 95% CI [1.0, 2.0]). Conclusions: Enhanced alcohol labels get noticed and may be an effective population-level strategy for increasing awareness and knowledge of national drinking guidelines.

SSRN Electronic Journal

Background: Changes in the use of alcohol and other substances during COVID-19 is of considerable... more Background: Changes in the use of alcohol and other substances during COVID-19 is of considerable public health interest. This study examined changes in per capita alcohol, cannabis and other essential retail sales across Canada during the early phase of COVID-19, and associations between these changes and different jurisdictional approaches to drug control. Methods: A time series analysis was used to examine trends in monthly per capita alcohol, cannabis, and essential and non-essential retail sales before and during the first three months of COVID-19 for 12 jurisdictions across Canada. We compared observed sales during the first three months of COVID-19 to predicted sales based on model outputs using pre-COVID-19 trends. Next, we used difference in difference models to estimate the associations between different models of alcohol and cannabis retail systems and changes in retail sales during COVID-19. Findings: In Canada, observed per capita sales were significantly greater than predicted for alcohol (+9.6%) and cannabis (+14.1%) during March 2020, and consistent with predicted sales in April and May 2020. Essential retail sales were significantly less than predicted during March to May 2020 (average of -7.4%). During COVID-19, per capita alcohol sales in jurisdictions with a private retail system increased significantly (+$8.5 on average, 95%CIs; 2.1,15.6) after accounting for changes over time. In contrast, the relative change in per capita alcohol sales in jurisdictions with a public retail model prior to and during COVID-19 was, on average, $13.3 lower (95% CIs; -22.6,-4.0) compared to the changes in jurisdictions with a private retail model. Similar trends were observed for cannabis sales with respect to retail model. Interpretation: There was a modest increase in alcohol and cannabis purchasing during the first three months of COVID-19. Changes in sales were influenced by pre-existing policies, and jurisdictions with a private retail model had greater than expected alcohol and cannabis sales compared to jurisdictions with a public model. This study adds to the body of research showing that government-run retail models for alcohol and cannabis provide protection for public health. Funding Statement: There is no funding to disclose for this project. Declaration of Interests: The authors have all completed ICMJE conflict of interest forms. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. Ethics Approval Statement: This project was approved by the Public Health Ontario Ethics Review Board file number 2020-038.01.

Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs

This study tested the initial and continued effects of cancer warning labels on drinkers' recall ... more This study tested the initial and continued effects of cancer warning labels on drinkers' recall and knowledge that alcohol can cause cancer. Method: A quasi-experiment was conducted to examine changes in the intervention versus comparison site for three outcomes: unprompted and prompted recall of the cancer warning, and knowledge that alcohol can cause cancer. The intervention site applied cancer warning labels to alcohol containers in its liquor store for 1 month, and the two liquor stores in the comparison site did not apply cancer labels. In total, 2,049 unique cohort participants (1,056 male) were recruited at liquor stores in the intervention and comparison sites to participate in surveys 4 months before labels were applied and 2 and 6 months after the cancer label was halted because of alcohol industry interference. Generalized estimating equations tested differences in outcomes between sites over time adjusting for socio-demographics and other covariates. Results: Two months after the cancer label, unprompted (+24.2% vs. +0.6%; adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 32.7, 95% CI [5.4, 197.7]) and prompted (+35.7% vs. +4.1%; AOR = 6.2, 95% CI [3.6, 10.9]) recall increased to a greater extent in the intervention versus comparison site. There was a 10% greater increase in knowledge (+12.1% vs. +11.6%; AOR = 1.1, 95% CI [0.7, 1.5]) 2 months after the cancer label in the intervention versus comparison site. Similar results were found 6 months after the cancer label for all three outcomes. Conclusions: In a real-world setting, cancer warning labels get noticed and increase knowledge that alcohol can cause cancer. Additional cancer label intervention studies are required that are not compromised by industry interference.

Canadian Journal of Public Health

Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada

Introduction The aim of this study was to document the scope of violations of the Canadian Radio-... more Introduction The aim of this study was to document the scope of violations of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) "Code for Broadcast Advertising of Alcoholic Beverages" (CRTC Code) by drinking venues posting alcohol-related content on social media platforms, and to assess whether CRTC Code violations by drinking venues relate to their popularity among university students and to students' drinking behaviours. Methods In phase 1 of the study, a probability sample of 477 students from four Canadian university responded to a questionnaire about their drinking and preferred drinking venues. In phase 2, a probability sample of 78 students assessed the compliance of drinking venues' social media posts with the 17 CRTC Code guidelines. We pooled both datasets and linked them by drinking venues. Results Popular drinking venues were overwhelming posting alcohol-related content that contravenes the CRTC Code. Adjusted effect estimates show ...

Promotion de la santé et prévention des maladies chroniques au Canada

Introduction Cette étude a pour but de documenter la portée des infractions au Code de la publici... more Introduction Cette étude a pour but de documenter la portée des infractions au Code de la publicité radio diffusée en faveur de boissons alcoolisées du Conseil de la radiodiffusion et des télécommunications canadiennes (CRTC) (Code du CRTC) commises par certains établissements servant de l’alcool qui publient du contenu lié à l’alcool sur des plateformes de médias sociaux et d’évaluer si ces infractions au Code du CRTC sont en lien avec la popularité de ces établissements auprès des étudiants universitaires et avec les comportements de ces derniers en matière de consommation d’alcool. Méthodologie Au cours de la phase 1 de l’étude, un échantillon aléatoire de 477 étudiants provenant de quatre universités canadiennes ont répondu à un questionnaire portant sur leurs habitudes de consommation d’alcool et sur les établissements servant de l’alcool qu’ils préféraient. Au cours de la phase 2, nous avons évalué, auprès d’un échantillon aléatoire de 78 étudiants, si les publications de ces ...

International Journal of Drug Policy

Alcohol labels are one strategy for raising consumer awareness about the negative consequences of... more Alcohol labels are one strategy for raising consumer awareness about the negative consequences of alcohol, but evidence to inform labels is limited. This quasi-experimental study sought to test the real-world impact of strengthening health messages on alcohol container labels on consumer attention, message processing (reading, thinking, and talking with others about labels), and self-reported drinking. Alcohol labels with a cancer warning, national drinking guidelines, and standard drink information were implemented in the intervention site, and usual labelling practices continued in the comparison site. Changes in key indicators of label effectiveness were assessed among a cohort of adult drinkers in both the intervention and comparison sites using three waves of surveys conducted before and at two time-points after the alcohol label intervention. Generalized Estimating Equations with difference-in-difference terms were used to examine the impact of the label intervention on changes in outcomes. Strengthening health messages on alcohol container labels significantly increased consumer attention to [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)=17.2, 95%CI:8.2,36.2] and processing of labels (e.g., reading labels: AOR=2.6, 95%CI:1.8,3.7), and consumer reports of drinking less due to the labels (AOR=3.7, 95%CI: 2.0,7.0). Strengthening health messages on alcohol containers can achieve their goal of attracting attention, deepening engagement, and enhancing motivation to reduce alcohol use. Strengthening alcohol labelling policies should be a priority for alcohol control globally.

Canadian Journal of Addiction

Objective: To describe alcohol-related emergency department (ED) consultations by adolescents and... more Objective: To describe alcohol-related emergency department (ED) consultations by adolescents and young adults, including severe alcohol intoxication. Method(s): This retrospective study was done in the 2 EDs of Sherbrooke (Quebec). All alcohol-related emergency visits among adolescent (12–17 years of age) and young adults (18–24 years of age) between January 1, 2012 and January 1, 2017 were described. Data include demographic information, the immediate drinking context leading to the ED consultation, means of transport, coingestion of other substances, laboratory data, clinical outcomes, and the type of counseling and follow-up services being offered. Results: On a total of 855 consultations, 56% were males. The median age was 20. Beverages with high alcohol content were consumed in 75% of cases. An altered level of consciousness was described in 68% of cases and 23% of patients had a condition presenting a potential threat to life. A majority of cases (57%) presented with at least 1 medical complication associated with alcohol intoxication. Only 29% had consumed a concurrent substance. The average blood alcohol concentration was 209 mg/dL. Half of patients were alone at the ED and only 52% were offered counseling and 40% a follow-up. Conclusions: Youth alcohol intoxication happens too often and is a serious medical emergency. Alcohol-related ED consultations are an opportunity for health professionals to intervene with youth. Young people need to be aware that beverages with high alcohol content can be extremely dangerous and alcohol regulations should be revised to restrict access to these products.

Health Promotion International

From a public health perspective, gambling shares many of the same characteristics as alcohol. No... more From a public health perspective, gambling shares many of the same characteristics as alcohol. Notably, excessive gambling is associated with many physical and emotional health harms, including depression, suicidal ideation, substance use and addiction and greater utilization of health care resources. Gambling also demonstrates a similar ‘dose-response’ relationship as alcohol—the more one gambles, the greater the likelihood of harm. Using the same collaborative, evidence-informed approach that produced Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking and Lower Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines, a research team is leading the development of the first national Low-Risk Gambling Guidelines (LRGGs) that will include quantitative thresholds for safe gambling. This paper describes the research methodology and the decision-making process for the project. The guidelines will be derived through secondary analyses of several large population datasets from Canada and other countries, including both cross-sectio...

Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation / La Revue canadienne d évaluation de programme

This evaluation practice note describes the current state of a monitoring framework developed to ... more This evaluation practice note describes the current state of a monitoring framework developed to help evaluate the implementation of Canada's National Alcohol Strategy (NAS). The note presents the method chosen to assess whether the NAS is effective in promoting moderation and reducing the overall harm from alcohol. The discussion focuses on current challenges associated with this monitoring framework, as well as the project's achievements so far. The evaluation system based on the monitoring framework should lead to more informed discussions among alcohol stakeholders about developing a culture of moderation in Canada.

Journal of Public Health Policy, 2016

Few empirical studies have examined the relationships between differing regulatory approaches and... more Few empirical studies have examined the relationships between differing regulatory approaches and patterns of gambling behaviors. This article reports on a correlational cross-cultural comparison of differences in the regulatory approaches and gambling behavior among general adult populations in France and Québec, Canada. We drew data from two large population surveys conducted in France and Québec (N=27 653 and N=11 888, respectively). We found diverging and converging aspects of government regulatory policies. Statistical analyses demonstrated significantly higher participation rates and prevalence of 'assiduous gamblers' in Québec. In France, among assiduous gamblers, the proportion of moderate-risk and probable pathological gamblers is significantly higher. Future research should examine environmental conditions and varying gambling offerings, as well as gambling regulation, to determine their potential influence on gambling behaviors.Journal of Public Health Policy advance online publication, 12 May 2016; doi:10.1057/jphp.2016.20.

International Gambling Studies, 2016

The CRDM-IU launched a new website designed to provide support to individuals struggling with gam... more The CRDM-IU launched a new website designed to provide support to individuals struggling with gambling-related problems and/or internet addiction as well as their families. It also offers resources to frontline health service providers.

La source doit être citée, conformément à la Loi sur le droit d'auteur.

Can J Public Health, 2015

To describe gambling practices and trends in Quebec between 2009 and 2012 given that, in Canada, ... more To describe gambling practices and trends in Quebec between 2009 and 2012 given that, in Canada, public funding allocation to address the risks associated with gambling practices should be based on valid prevalence data and knowledge of patterns and trends in vulnerable populations. The study data were taken from the 2009 and 2012 cross-sectional waves of the Enquête sur les habitudes de jeu des Québécois (ENHJEU-Québec). The analytical sample consisted of 11,888 respondents in 2009 and 12,008 respondents in 2012. The prevalence of lifetime non-gamblers in the adult population of Quebec increased from 13.6% in 2009 to 16.4% in 2012, and past-year gambling participation decreased from 70.5% to 66.2%. Changes in gambling patterns were not contingent on demographic characteristics; gambling prevalence decreased in all subcategories. The proportion of problem and low-risk gamblers remained unchanged, whereas the prevalence of non-problem gamblers decreased significantly from 66.1% in 2009 to 61.5% in 2012. Gambling participation in Quebec is decreasing, though the proportion of problem gamblers remains stable. Given these findings, allocation of public resources for health care services should be maintained. Secondary and primary prevention efforts need to be initiated or maintained to prevent gambling harm.

BMC Public Health, 2021

Background Multiple survey reports suggest that alcohol use has increased in Canada during the CO... more Background Multiple survey reports suggest that alcohol use has increased in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, less is known about how per capita alcohol sales, which predict population-level alcohol use, have changed and whether changes in alcohol sales differ from changes in sales of other products due to pandemic factors. Methods We obtained monthly retail sales data by industry from Statistics Canada, for the six largest provinces in Canada (containing 93% of the national population), between January 2010 and November 2020, representing time before and 9 months after the start of the pandemic in Canada. We used an interrupted time series analysis to estimate pandemic impacts on the dollar value of monthly per capita (per individuals 15+ years) alcohol, essential and non-essential retail sales. We adjusted our analyses for pre-pandemic sales trends, inflation, seasonality and changing population demographics over time. Results During the first 9 months of the pandemic...

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, provincial and territorial governments have designated liquor stores ... more Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, provincial and territorial governments have designated liquor stores as essential businesses permitted to stay open. This brief report will highlight some of the risks associated with keeping liquor stores open during the pandemic and the potential risks of closing these stores. It is intended for government officials, policy makers, researchers and journalists.

Drug and Alcohol Review, 2019

Ce document est également disponible en français sous le titre : L'alcool et la santé au Canada: ... more Ce document est également disponible en français sous le titre : L'alcool et la santé au Canada: résumé des données probantes et directives de consommation à faible risque

Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs

Objective: Alcohol labels are one strategy for communicating health information to consumers. Thi... more Objective: Alcohol labels are one strategy for communicating health information to consumers. This study tested the extent to which consumers recalled alcohol labels with national drinking guidelines and examined the impact of labels on awareness and knowledge of the guidelines. Method: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in two jurisdictions in northern Canada examining the impact of labels on the following outcomes: unprompted and prompted recall of the drinking guideline label message, awareness of the drinking guidelines, and knowledge of the daily and weekly recommended drink limits. The intervention site applied labels with national drinking guidelines, a cancer warning, and standard drink information to alcohol containers in its liquor store, whereas the comparison site did not apply these labels. In total, 2,049 cohort participants in both sites were recruited to complete surveys before and at two time points after the intervention. Changes in outcomes were examined using generalized estimating equations. Results: After the intervention, unprompted and prompted recall of the drinking guideline label message increased more in the intervention versus comparison site (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 10.8, 95% CI [0.9, 127.6]; AOR = 7.0, 95% CI [3.3, 14.9], respectively). Awareness of the drinking guidelines increased 2.9 times more in the intervention versus comparison site (AOR = 2.9, 95% CI [2.0, 4.3]). In addition, knowledge of the daily and weekly drink limits increased 1.5 and 1.4 times more in the intervention versus comparison site, respectively (daily: AOR = 1.5, 95% CI [1.0, 2.1]; weekly: AOR = 1.4, 95% CI [1.0, 2.0]). Conclusions: Enhanced alcohol labels get noticed and may be an effective population-level strategy for increasing awareness and knowledge of national drinking guidelines.

SSRN Electronic Journal

Background: Changes in the use of alcohol and other substances during COVID-19 is of considerable... more Background: Changes in the use of alcohol and other substances during COVID-19 is of considerable public health interest. This study examined changes in per capita alcohol, cannabis and other essential retail sales across Canada during the early phase of COVID-19, and associations between these changes and different jurisdictional approaches to drug control. Methods: A time series analysis was used to examine trends in monthly per capita alcohol, cannabis, and essential and non-essential retail sales before and during the first three months of COVID-19 for 12 jurisdictions across Canada. We compared observed sales during the first three months of COVID-19 to predicted sales based on model outputs using pre-COVID-19 trends. Next, we used difference in difference models to estimate the associations between different models of alcohol and cannabis retail systems and changes in retail sales during COVID-19. Findings: In Canada, observed per capita sales were significantly greater than predicted for alcohol (+9.6%) and cannabis (+14.1%) during March 2020, and consistent with predicted sales in April and May 2020. Essential retail sales were significantly less than predicted during March to May 2020 (average of -7.4%). During COVID-19, per capita alcohol sales in jurisdictions with a private retail system increased significantly (+$8.5 on average, 95%CIs; 2.1,15.6) after accounting for changes over time. In contrast, the relative change in per capita alcohol sales in jurisdictions with a public retail model prior to and during COVID-19 was, on average, $13.3 lower (95% CIs; -22.6,-4.0) compared to the changes in jurisdictions with a private retail model. Similar trends were observed for cannabis sales with respect to retail model. Interpretation: There was a modest increase in alcohol and cannabis purchasing during the first three months of COVID-19. Changes in sales were influenced by pre-existing policies, and jurisdictions with a private retail model had greater than expected alcohol and cannabis sales compared to jurisdictions with a public model. This study adds to the body of research showing that government-run retail models for alcohol and cannabis provide protection for public health. Funding Statement: There is no funding to disclose for this project. Declaration of Interests: The authors have all completed ICMJE conflict of interest forms. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. Ethics Approval Statement: This project was approved by the Public Health Ontario Ethics Review Board file number 2020-038.01.

Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs

This study tested the initial and continued effects of cancer warning labels on drinkers' recall ... more This study tested the initial and continued effects of cancer warning labels on drinkers' recall and knowledge that alcohol can cause cancer. Method: A quasi-experiment was conducted to examine changes in the intervention versus comparison site for three outcomes: unprompted and prompted recall of the cancer warning, and knowledge that alcohol can cause cancer. The intervention site applied cancer warning labels to alcohol containers in its liquor store for 1 month, and the two liquor stores in the comparison site did not apply cancer labels. In total, 2,049 unique cohort participants (1,056 male) were recruited at liquor stores in the intervention and comparison sites to participate in surveys 4 months before labels were applied and 2 and 6 months after the cancer label was halted because of alcohol industry interference. Generalized estimating equations tested differences in outcomes between sites over time adjusting for socio-demographics and other covariates. Results: Two months after the cancer label, unprompted (+24.2% vs. +0.6%; adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 32.7, 95% CI [5.4, 197.7]) and prompted (+35.7% vs. +4.1%; AOR = 6.2, 95% CI [3.6, 10.9]) recall increased to a greater extent in the intervention versus comparison site. There was a 10% greater increase in knowledge (+12.1% vs. +11.6%; AOR = 1.1, 95% CI [0.7, 1.5]) 2 months after the cancer label in the intervention versus comparison site. Similar results were found 6 months after the cancer label for all three outcomes. Conclusions: In a real-world setting, cancer warning labels get noticed and increase knowledge that alcohol can cause cancer. Additional cancer label intervention studies are required that are not compromised by industry interference.

Canadian Journal of Public Health

Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada

Introduction The aim of this study was to document the scope of violations of the Canadian Radio-... more Introduction The aim of this study was to document the scope of violations of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) "Code for Broadcast Advertising of Alcoholic Beverages" (CRTC Code) by drinking venues posting alcohol-related content on social media platforms, and to assess whether CRTC Code violations by drinking venues relate to their popularity among university students and to students' drinking behaviours. Methods In phase 1 of the study, a probability sample of 477 students from four Canadian university responded to a questionnaire about their drinking and preferred drinking venues. In phase 2, a probability sample of 78 students assessed the compliance of drinking venues' social media posts with the 17 CRTC Code guidelines. We pooled both datasets and linked them by drinking venues. Results Popular drinking venues were overwhelming posting alcohol-related content that contravenes the CRTC Code. Adjusted effect estimates show ...

Promotion de la santé et prévention des maladies chroniques au Canada

Introduction Cette étude a pour but de documenter la portée des infractions au Code de la publici... more Introduction Cette étude a pour but de documenter la portée des infractions au Code de la publicité radio diffusée en faveur de boissons alcoolisées du Conseil de la radiodiffusion et des télécommunications canadiennes (CRTC) (Code du CRTC) commises par certains établissements servant de l’alcool qui publient du contenu lié à l’alcool sur des plateformes de médias sociaux et d’évaluer si ces infractions au Code du CRTC sont en lien avec la popularité de ces établissements auprès des étudiants universitaires et avec les comportements de ces derniers en matière de consommation d’alcool. Méthodologie Au cours de la phase 1 de l’étude, un échantillon aléatoire de 477 étudiants provenant de quatre universités canadiennes ont répondu à un questionnaire portant sur leurs habitudes de consommation d’alcool et sur les établissements servant de l’alcool qu’ils préféraient. Au cours de la phase 2, nous avons évalué, auprès d’un échantillon aléatoire de 78 étudiants, si les publications de ces ...

International Journal of Drug Policy

Alcohol labels are one strategy for raising consumer awareness about the negative consequences of... more Alcohol labels are one strategy for raising consumer awareness about the negative consequences of alcohol, but evidence to inform labels is limited. This quasi-experimental study sought to test the real-world impact of strengthening health messages on alcohol container labels on consumer attention, message processing (reading, thinking, and talking with others about labels), and self-reported drinking. Alcohol labels with a cancer warning, national drinking guidelines, and standard drink information were implemented in the intervention site, and usual labelling practices continued in the comparison site. Changes in key indicators of label effectiveness were assessed among a cohort of adult drinkers in both the intervention and comparison sites using three waves of surveys conducted before and at two time-points after the alcohol label intervention. Generalized Estimating Equations with difference-in-difference terms were used to examine the impact of the label intervention on changes in outcomes. Strengthening health messages on alcohol container labels significantly increased consumer attention to [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)=17.2, 95%CI:8.2,36.2] and processing of labels (e.g., reading labels: AOR=2.6, 95%CI:1.8,3.7), and consumer reports of drinking less due to the labels (AOR=3.7, 95%CI: 2.0,7.0). Strengthening health messages on alcohol containers can achieve their goal of attracting attention, deepening engagement, and enhancing motivation to reduce alcohol use. Strengthening alcohol labelling policies should be a priority for alcohol control globally.

Canadian Journal of Addiction

Objective: To describe alcohol-related emergency department (ED) consultations by adolescents and... more Objective: To describe alcohol-related emergency department (ED) consultations by adolescents and young adults, including severe alcohol intoxication. Method(s): This retrospective study was done in the 2 EDs of Sherbrooke (Quebec). All alcohol-related emergency visits among adolescent (12–17 years of age) and young adults (18–24 years of age) between January 1, 2012 and January 1, 2017 were described. Data include demographic information, the immediate drinking context leading to the ED consultation, means of transport, coingestion of other substances, laboratory data, clinical outcomes, and the type of counseling and follow-up services being offered. Results: On a total of 855 consultations, 56% were males. The median age was 20. Beverages with high alcohol content were consumed in 75% of cases. An altered level of consciousness was described in 68% of cases and 23% of patients had a condition presenting a potential threat to life. A majority of cases (57%) presented with at least 1 medical complication associated with alcohol intoxication. Only 29% had consumed a concurrent substance. The average blood alcohol concentration was 209 mg/dL. Half of patients were alone at the ED and only 52% were offered counseling and 40% a follow-up. Conclusions: Youth alcohol intoxication happens too often and is a serious medical emergency. Alcohol-related ED consultations are an opportunity for health professionals to intervene with youth. Young people need to be aware that beverages with high alcohol content can be extremely dangerous and alcohol regulations should be revised to restrict access to these products.

Health Promotion International

From a public health perspective, gambling shares many of the same characteristics as alcohol. No... more From a public health perspective, gambling shares many of the same characteristics as alcohol. Notably, excessive gambling is associated with many physical and emotional health harms, including depression, suicidal ideation, substance use and addiction and greater utilization of health care resources. Gambling also demonstrates a similar ‘dose-response’ relationship as alcohol—the more one gambles, the greater the likelihood of harm. Using the same collaborative, evidence-informed approach that produced Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking and Lower Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines, a research team is leading the development of the first national Low-Risk Gambling Guidelines (LRGGs) that will include quantitative thresholds for safe gambling. This paper describes the research methodology and the decision-making process for the project. The guidelines will be derived through secondary analyses of several large population datasets from Canada and other countries, including both cross-sectio...

Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation / La Revue canadienne d évaluation de programme

This evaluation practice note describes the current state of a monitoring framework developed to ... more This evaluation practice note describes the current state of a monitoring framework developed to help evaluate the implementation of Canada's National Alcohol Strategy (NAS). The note presents the method chosen to assess whether the NAS is effective in promoting moderation and reducing the overall harm from alcohol. The discussion focuses on current challenges associated with this monitoring framework, as well as the project's achievements so far. The evaluation system based on the monitoring framework should lead to more informed discussions among alcohol stakeholders about developing a culture of moderation in Canada.

Journal of Public Health Policy, 2016

Few empirical studies have examined the relationships between differing regulatory approaches and... more Few empirical studies have examined the relationships between differing regulatory approaches and patterns of gambling behaviors. This article reports on a correlational cross-cultural comparison of differences in the regulatory approaches and gambling behavior among general adult populations in France and Québec, Canada. We drew data from two large population surveys conducted in France and Québec (N=27 653 and N=11 888, respectively). We found diverging and converging aspects of government regulatory policies. Statistical analyses demonstrated significantly higher participation rates and prevalence of 'assiduous gamblers' in Québec. In France, among assiduous gamblers, the proportion of moderate-risk and probable pathological gamblers is significantly higher. Future research should examine environmental conditions and varying gambling offerings, as well as gambling regulation, to determine their potential influence on gambling behaviors.Journal of Public Health Policy advance online publication, 12 May 2016; doi:10.1057/jphp.2016.20.

International Gambling Studies, 2016

The CRDM-IU launched a new website designed to provide support to individuals struggling with gam... more The CRDM-IU launched a new website designed to provide support to individuals struggling with gambling-related problems and/or internet addiction as well as their families. It also offers resources to frontline health service providers.

La source doit être citée, conformément à la Loi sur le droit d'auteur.

Can J Public Health, 2015

To describe gambling practices and trends in Quebec between 2009 and 2012 given that, in Canada, ... more To describe gambling practices and trends in Quebec between 2009 and 2012 given that, in Canada, public funding allocation to address the risks associated with gambling practices should be based on valid prevalence data and knowledge of patterns and trends in vulnerable populations. The study data were taken from the 2009 and 2012 cross-sectional waves of the Enquête sur les habitudes de jeu des Québécois (ENHJEU-Québec). The analytical sample consisted of 11,888 respondents in 2009 and 12,008 respondents in 2012. The prevalence of lifetime non-gamblers in the adult population of Quebec increased from 13.6% in 2009 to 16.4% in 2012, and past-year gambling participation decreased from 70.5% to 66.2%. Changes in gambling patterns were not contingent on demographic characteristics; gambling prevalence decreased in all subcategories. The proportion of problem and low-risk gamblers remained unchanged, whereas the prevalence of non-problem gamblers decreased significantly from 66.1% in 2009 to 61.5% in 2012. Gambling participation in Quebec is decreasing, though the proportion of problem gamblers remains stable. Given these findings, allocation of public resources for health care services should be maintained. Secondary and primary prevention efforts need to be initiated or maintained to prevent gambling harm.